Gilkey Covered Bridge - Linn County, Oregon

The Gilkey Covered Bridge is a 120 foot long Howe Truss covered bridge located on Goar Road near Scio, Oregon. The covered bridge features open sides, curved portals and was built in 1939 over Thomas Creek, a tributary of the South Santiam River. The bridge also serves as part of the Linn County Covered Bridge Tour, which is a driving tour that features nine covered bridges in and around the county.

The covered bridge closed in 1997 due to damage caused by an overweight vehicle, cracking the bridge's timbers. This led to the covered bridge being rehabilitated, ultimately being reopened in 1998. In 2017, the covered bridge underwent further renovation with new approach spans built for the bridge, along with replacement of the bridge's substructure, abutments, and piers. Once renovations were completed, the weight limit of the bridge increased from 6 tons to 40 tons.

The covered bridge is a remnant of the former town of Gilkey, serving as a point for shipping of agricultural goods. Gilkey was established when the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1880 and was named in honor of Allen and William Gilkey, who were early settlers to the area. There is a parallel span for the railroad, and up until 1960, the railroad bridge was also covered. The only remnants of Gilkey is a sign down the road explaining the history of the area, along with the historic Gilkey Covered Bridge.

How to Get There:

Sources and Links:
Oregon Discovery - Gilkey Covered Bridge
Travel Oregon - Gilkey Bridge
Linn County, Oregon - Covered Bridge Tour Route

Yesterdays Trails - CV019: Gilkey Covered Bridge near Jefferson, OR – 1977

Comments

Crescent City Connection (New Orleans, LA)

The Crescent City Connection is a massive dual-span steel truss bridge that spans the lower Mississippi River at downtown New Orleans, about 95 river miles upstream from the mouth of the great river at the Head of Passes Light. If counted as a single bi-directional highway bridge, the parallel spans combine to form the single busiest bridge on the Mississippi River and its importance as a linchpin in the region’s transportation network cannot be overstated. While there have been various schemes over the years to construct bridges downriver from Algiers Point, this bridge has been the southernmost bridge on the Mississippi River since its initial construction in the 1950s. The years immediately following the end of World War II were a transformational period in the history of New Orleans. Already one of the great economic and cultural centers of the American Deep South, it was recognized at this time that major changes and improvements to the city’s transportation infrastructure would b...

Old US Route 99 through Tipton, Tulare, and Tagus Ranch

This summer I had a look into the alignment history of US Route 99 through the Tulare County communities of Tipton, Tulare, and Tagus Ranch. While this slab below might seem like much it is one of the few remaining reminders of how US Route 99 was during the 1920s in Tulare County. This blog is part of the larger Gribblenation US Route 99 Page. For more information pertaining to the other various segments of US Route 99 and it's three-digit child routes check out the link the below. Gribblenation US Route 99 Page Part 1; the history of US Route 99 in Tipton, Tulare, and Tagus Ranch Tipton and Tulare were both founded in 1872 as sidings of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Southern Pacific Railroad laid the groundwork for development of southern San Joaquin Valley. Previous to the Southern Pacific Railroad travel via wagon or foot in Central California tended to avoid San Joaquin Valley in favor of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road. The Stockton Los Ange...

Former US Route 101 and California State Route 41 through Paso Robles

Paso Robles is a city located on the Salinas River of San Luis Obispo County, California. As originally configured the surface alignments of US Route 101 and California State Route 41 converged in downtown Paso Robles. US Route 101 originally was aligned through Paso Robles via Spring Street. California State Route 41 entered the City of Paso Robles via Union Road and 13th Street where it intersected US Route 101 at Spring Street. US Route 101 and California State Route 41 departed Paso Robles southbound via a multiplex which split near Templeton. Pictured above is the cover of the September/October 1957 California Highways & Public Works which features construction of the Paso Robles Bypass. Pictured below is the 1935 Division of Highways Map of San Luis Obispo County which depicts US Route 101 and California State Route 41 intersecting in downtown Paso Robles. Part 1; the history of US Route 101 and California State Route 41 i...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog