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Bridgeport Covered Bridge

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The Bridgeport Covered Bridge is a historic crossing of the South Fork Yuba River located in Nevada County, California near Nevada City.  The Bridgeport Covered Bridge opened as a tolled crossing during 1862 as part of the larger Henness Pass Road.  The Bridgeport Covered Bridge closed to vehicle traffic during 1972 and was recently restored during 2021.  The Bridgeport Covered Bridge is historically California's longest covered span is thought to likely be the longest such structure surviving in the world.  Featured as the blog cover is the Bridgeport Covered Bridge during 1950 when it was an active part of Pleasant Valley Road.  



The history of the Bridgeport Covered Bridge

The history of Bridgeport Covered Bridge was featured in the September 1950 California Highways & Public Works.  Bridgeport Covered Bridge was constructed during 1862 over the South Fork Yuba River.  The Bridgeport Covered Bridge served as part of the Virginia Turnpike Company maintained Henness Pass Road over the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  The Henness Pass Road had become prominent as a crossing of the Sierra Nevada Mountains following the discovery of the Comstock Lode during 1859.  The Bridgeport Covered Bridge is noted to be similar to a like structure built by Theodore Burr over the Hudson River in 1804.  The Bridgeport Covered Bridge is noted to be the longest covered bridge in California and the United States at 225 feet in length.  As depicted in the article the Bridgeport Covered Bridge was then an active part of Pleasant Valley Road.  




The Virginia Turnpike Company stopped collecting tolls at the Bridgeport Covered Bridge during 1880.  The rationale for the Virginia Turnpike Company relinquishing their toll franchise rights likely was due to the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad and Dutch Flat & Donner Lake Wagon Road replacing the Henness Pass Road as the primary route over the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  The Bridgeport Covered Bridge can be seen located in Nevada County along the Henness Pass Road on the 1882 Bancroft's Map of California.  


Bridgeport Covered Bridge was closed to vehicle traffic in 1972.  The October 19, 2011, appealdemocrat news reported the Bridgeport Covered Bridge was closing to pedestrian access on October 21, 2011, due to structural issues.  Repair estimates in the article were noted to cost approximately $20,000.



The June 27, 2014, Sacramento Bee announced funding to restore the Bridgeport Covered Bridge was allocated in the state budget on June 20, 2014.  Restoration would be completed during November 2021 and the span reopened to pedestrian traffic.  



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