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Lovejoy Covered Bridge - Andover, Maine

 



Located in a quiet part of western Maine, the Lovejoy Covered Bridge is a Paddleford truss style covered bridge built in 1867. The Lovejoy Covered Bridge is the shortest covered bridge in the state of Maine, spanning a length of 75 feet over the Ellis River, just south of the village of Andover. The last remaining covered bridge out of three covered bridges that were in Andover, the Lovejoy Bridge gets its name from the Lovejoy house, which was on the eastern side of the Ellis River. The bridge was constructed to replace a worn out bridge using the same abutments, costing a grand total of $743.45 by raising taxes in the town. As is a common story with covered bridges, the Lovejoy Covered Bridge has seen its share of wear and tear over the years. In 1983. a heavy sand truck fell through the deck of the bridge while trying to cross the span. As a result, the bridge was reinforced in 1984 to carry local traffic. Today, the Lovejoy Covered Bridge can be enjoyed for passive recreation. It looks like a good stop during a bicycle tour, as I apparently saw during my visit, or good for just enjoying time along the river.










How to Get There:



Sources and Links:
MaineDOT - Lovejoy Bridge, Andover, Maine
Andover, Maine - Bridges and Covered Bridges
Bridgehunter.com - Lovejoy Covered Bridge 19-09-01

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