About North Pole Road Covered Bridge
The North Pole Road Covered Bridge spans Eagle Creek approximately four miles east of the town of Ripley in Brown County, Ohio. Originally built in 1875, this 156-foot Smith truss bridge served vehicular traffic for over 140 years before being bypassed in 2019 and preserved as a historic pedestrian crossing.
History of North Pole Road Covered Bridge
The North Pole Road Covered Bridge was originally constructed in 1865 and rebuilt in 1875 following damage. The bridge underwent rehabilitation in 1965 and was severely damaged during the catastrophic floods of March 1997, which also destroyed its twin bridge located a short distance downstream on SR-763. After extensive repairs following the flood damage, the bridge continued to carry vehicular traffic until 2019, when a modern replacement bridge was constructed and the historic covered bridge was closed to vehicles. With only about 125 covered bridges remaining in Ohio by that time, the decision was made to preserve the North Pole bridge as a historic resource. As of 2021, the bridge siding was painted gray.
Architecture and Design
The North Pole Road Covered Bridge features the Smith truss design, a patented system developed by Robert W. Smith of Miami County, Ohio. The Smith truss was particularly popular in southwestern Ohio due to its efficient use of materials and structural strength. At 156 feet in length with a deck width of 15.4 feet and vertical clearance of 10 feet, the bridge served as an important crossing over Eagle Creek for generations. The structure demonstrates the durability of properly maintained covered bridge construction.
Visiting North Pole Road Covered Bridge
The North Pole Road Covered Bridge is located north of Ripley, Ohio. From Ripley, travel north on US Route 68 for about 1 mile, then turn right onto North Pole Road (CR 15) and continue for approximately 3 miles to the bridge. While no longer open to vehicular traffic, visitors can walk across the span and appreciate the historic structure. The bridge has been preserved as a pedestrian footpath, allowing visitors to experience crossing Eagle Creek as travelers have done for nearly 150 years.