About Smolen-Gulf Covered Bridge
The Smolen-Gulf Covered Bridge is a 613-foot Pratt truss bridge spanning the Ashtabula River in Plymouth Township. Built in 2008, it holds the distinction of being the longest covered bridge in the United States, surpassing the historic Cornish-Windsor Bridge. Standing 93 feet above the river with a 30-foot clear width, this modern covered bridge can support full legal load traffic including tractor-trailers and has a life expectancy of over 100 years.
History of Smolen-Gulf Covered Bridge
The bridge was designed by John Smolen, former Ashtabula County Engineer, and Timothy Martin, then current County Engineer. Construction began in 2006 after obtaining EPA and Army Corps of Engineers permits. The $8 million project was funded through federal bridge dollars, Ohio Public Works funds, and local Road and Bridge funds. The bridge was dedicated on August 26, 2008, replacing the historic Crooked Gulf Covered Bridge that previously spanned this location. A visitor's pavilion was added in 2010 to accommodate the many tourists who come to see this engineering achievement.
Architecture and Design
The Smolen-Gulf Bridge features a modified Pratt truss construction using Southern Yellow Pine, with Yellow Poplar siding painted Olympus Green. The bridge required 55,000 cubic feet of lumber (670,000 board feet), enough timber to cover a football field nearly 15 inches thick. The roof consists of 1,256 pieces of 18-gauge galvanized aluminum panels. The construction involved moving 185,624 cubic yards of earth, pouring 2,025 cubic yards of concrete for piers and abutments, and installing 86,000 pounds of galvanized steel reinforcement. The project took 30,000 labor hours with no lost-time incidents.
Visiting Smolen-Gulf Covered Bridge
The bridge is located on State Road (County Road 25) between Ashtabula and Plymouth townships. From Route 11, take the Route 84 (South Ridge) exit at Ashtabula. The bridge is part of Indian Trails Park, which offers parking, hiking trails, and picnic facilities. Visitors can walk across the bridge via safe sidewalks on either side while enjoying spectacular views of the Ashtabula River gorge below. The Riverview Covered Bridge, a pedestrian bridge, is located directly beneath Smolen-Gulf within the park. The area is popular for steelhead fishing in late fall and early spring.