Giddings Road Covered Bridge

About Giddings Road Covered Bridge

The Giddings Road Covered Bridge is a 107-foot Pratt truss structure spanning Mill Creek in Jefferson Township. Built in 1995, it represents the modern era of covered bridge construction in Ashtabula County.

History of Giddings Road Covered Bridge

The bridge was built in 1995 using funding from an ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) Timber Grant. This program helped rural Ohio counties construct covered bridges that serve both practical transportation needs and tourist attractions. The Giddings Road Bridge was part of the county's ongoing effort to expand its covered bridge network.

Architecture and Design

The bridge features Pratt truss construction, which uses vertical components and diagonal members that slope toward the center. This design, invented in 1844, is efficient for load distribution and was commonly used for railroad bridges. The clearance height is 15 feet 6 inches, one of the tallest in the county.

Visiting Giddings Road Covered Bridge

The bridge is located at 1399 Giddings Road, approximately 8 miles from the Smolen-Gulf Bridge. Mill Creek, which the bridge spans, is a tributary of the Grand River. The bridge tour route returns to Jefferson (3.5 miles back) via Jones Road and Routes 167 and 46.