Lowell Bridge
Encyclopedia
Lowell Bridge is a covered bridge
in Lowell
, Oregon
, United States. The current bridge was built in 1907.
in 1874, and established the town of Lowell, which he named after his birthplace of Lowell
, Maine
. The founding of the town coincided with construction of a railroad through the settlement. At the site of the current bridge, Hyland operated a ferry across the river. The ferry operated until 1907, when a bridge was built by Nels Roney, who was also the builder of the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House
in Eugene
.
An accident occurred in 1945 when a truck caused major damage to the bridge. It was replaced by the current bridge, which is the widest in the state. In 1953, in preparation for the flooding expected to be caused by the Dexter Dam in two years, the entire bridge was raised six feet, and the floor replaced. Dexter Dam inundated the area, creating Dexter Reservoir, when it was completed in 1955. The engineers' water level calculations proved to be correct: the water clearance was about 2 foot (0.6096 m).
. A concrete bypass of the bridge was under construction at the time, when a dump truck
with its bed up drove through, causing major damage to the bridge. Unlike the prior damage, the bridge was repaired with new roof braces and portal boards before the bypass was opened a few weeks later.
The Western Federal Lands Highway Division, Lane County
, the Oregon Department of Transportation
, and the United States Forest Service
built an interpretive center in 2006 for $1.2 million. It includes several signs explaining the history of Lane County's covered bridges, and the area around Lowell and Lowell Bridge.
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
in Lowell
Lowell, Oregon
Lowell is a city in Lane County, Oregon, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,045.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 25.0%, is water....
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States. The current bridge was built in 1907.
History
Before the Lowell Bridge was constructed, pioneer Amos Hyland settled on the Middle Fork Willamette RiverMiddle Fork Willamette River
The Middle Fork Willamette River is one of several forks that unite to form the Willamette River in the western part of the U.S. state of Oregon...
in 1874, and established the town of Lowell, which he named after his birthplace of Lowell
Lowell, Maine
Lowell is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 291 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. The founding of the town coincided with construction of a railroad through the settlement. At the site of the current bridge, Hyland operated a ferry across the river. The ferry operated until 1907, when a bridge was built by Nels Roney, who was also the builder of the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House
Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House
The Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House, or Castle on the Hill in Eugene, Oregon, United States is a Victorian-era residence that is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. It is named for the three families who called it home over the years...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
.
An accident occurred in 1945 when a truck caused major damage to the bridge. It was replaced by the current bridge, which is the widest in the state. In 1953, in preparation for the flooding expected to be caused by the Dexter Dam in two years, the entire bridge was raised six feet, and the floor replaced. Dexter Dam inundated the area, creating Dexter Reservoir, when it was completed in 1955. The engineers' water level calculations proved to be correct: the water clearance was about 2 foot (0.6096 m).
Lowell Bridge today
On November 29, 1979, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. A concrete bypass of the bridge was under construction at the time, when a dump truck
Dump truck
A dump truck is a truck used for transporting loose material for construction. A typical dump truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open-box bed hinged at the rear, the front of which can be lifted up to allow the contents to be deposited on the ground behind the truck at the site of...
with its bed up drove through, causing major damage to the bridge. Unlike the prior damage, the bridge was repaired with new roof braces and portal boards before the bypass was opened a few weeks later.
The Western Federal Lands Highway Division, Lane County
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
, the Oregon Department of Transportation
Oregon Department of Transportation
The Oregon Department of Transportation is a department of the state government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for systems of transportation. It was first established in 1969. It had been preceded by the Oregon State Highway Department which, along with the Oregon State Highway...
, and the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
built an interpretive center in 2006 for $1.2 million. It includes several signs explaining the history of Lane County's covered bridges, and the area around Lowell and Lowell Bridge.