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Smolen-Gulf Bridge

Madison County has nothing on Ashtabula, Ohio's 613-foot-long
Smolen-Gulf Bridge, photographed by Mark Berger.

Planning for the Smolen Bridge project began in 1995 when an annual bridge inspection showed severe deterioration of the existing span. John Smolen, at the time the Ashtabula (Ohio) County Engineer, was as concerned about improvements to the road alignment as he was about replacing the deficient bridge. Preliminary engineering indicated that creating a suitable new span would require a road realignment leaving a 600-foot-wide gap to span.

Federal Bridge dollars were applied for, and in 2000, $5 million was awarded to the county, thus ensuring construction. From 2001 through 2005, plans and specifications were developed, environmental studies and documents were prepared, additional road rights-of-way were secured, and wetland mitigation was completed. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineer permits were obtained, and finally, in mid-summer 2006, construction began with land clearing and earthwork.

From August 2006 to July 2007, 171,000 cubic yards of earthen fill were moved into place. The bridge piers and abutments required 3500 tons of concrete and nearly 250 tons of steel reinforcement. The timber structure used 51,000 cubic feet of lumber, or 613,000 board feet -- enough to cover a football field with a layer 13" thick. County highway and bridge crews constructed the block retaining wall, seeded, mulched, installed storm drainage and other construction components. At 613 feet, the Smolen became the longest covered bridge in the United States. 

Smolen boasts a clear width of 30 feet, a clear height of 14'6" and stands 93 feet above the water's surface. The bridge will support full legal loads, including 80,000-pound tractor trailer traffic, and has a life expectancy of more than 100 years. The bridge truss is a modified Pratt design, which, if you're a civil engineer or architect, means something. The bridge's complete name is the Smolen-Gulf Bridge Ashtabula County Highway #25. 

Total cost was $8 million, $5 million of which came from federal bridge repair dollars, and $1 million from Ohio Public Works Commission, and the remainder from local road and bridge funds.

DIRECTIONS

From Jefferson, Ohio, go 5 miles north on State Route 11 to the Seven Hills Road exit. Turn right (east) on Seven Hills Road and follow to stop sign. Turn left (north) on to State Road. Continue to bridge. 

Mark Berger is a Columbus, Ohio-based photographer, and owner of Focus Photo. He has a BFA in photography from Wittenberg University , and is active in community clubs and events. His regular gigs include photographing for the Columbus Polo Club, the Ballet Metropolitan, and the Goldston & Johnson School for Mime. He toured with Marcel Marceau as the mime’s personal photographer. He was the photographer for the Ryder Cup and the Columbus 500 auto race. He has photographed all 165 covered bridges in the State of Ohio.