About Caine Road Covered Bridge
The Caine Road Covered Bridge is a 124-foot Pratt truss with arch structure spanning the west branch of the Ashtabula River in Pierpont Township. Built in 1986, it was the first Pratt truss covered bridge in Ohio and was constructed to commemorate Ashtabula County's 175th anniversary.
History of Caine Road Covered Bridge
The bridge was built in 1986 by John Smolen Jr. as part of the county's 175th birthday celebration. The Pratt truss design, invented in 1844, was historically most commonly used for railroad bridges up until World War II. The Caine Road Bridge brought this design to covered bridge construction in Ohio for the first time, demonstrating the ongoing innovation in the county's covered bridge building tradition.
Architecture and Design
The Pratt truss uses vertical components and diagonals that slope down toward the center, creating an efficient load-bearing structure. The bridge combines this truss system with an arch for additional strength. This design represents a departure from the more common Town lattice and Howe truss designs found in most of the county's historic bridges.
Visiting Caine Road Covered Bridge
The bridge is located on Caine Road, which is a dirt road, so visitors should be prepared for unpaved conditions. For those wishing to avoid most of the dirt and bumps, take Stanhope-Kelloggsville Road north from Route 167 to Caine Road. From the Caine Road Bridge, it is approximately 1.7 miles to the Graham Road Bridge if you follow Stanhope-Kelloggsville Road.