Rock O' the Range Bridge

The Rock O' the Range Bridge, also called the Swalley Canal Bridge, is a bridge located north of Bend, Oregon, U.S., on a street adjacent to U.S. Route 97. It is the only covered span in the state of Oregon on the east side of the Cascade Range. It is also one of very few privately owned covered bridges in Oregon.[3]

Rock O' the Range Bridge
Coordinates44°07′20″N 121°17′13″W
CarriesBowery Lane
CrossesSwalley Canal
Maintained byLocal Homeowners
Characteristics
DesignCovered
Total length42 feet (13 m)
Clearance above12.3 feet (3.7 m)
History
Constructed byMaurice Olson
Construction end1963[1]
Rock O' the Range Bridge
Nearest cityBend, Oregon
Architectural styleKing Post Truss
MPSOregon Covered Bridges TR
NRHP reference No.79002054[2]
Added to NRHP29 November 1979
Location

History

William Bowen, a proprietor of land north of Bend, was forced to build an access road across the Swalley Canal to access his property. His bridge was inspired by the Goodpasture Bridge in Lane County. Bowen hired Maurice Olson to build the bridge; it was finished in 1963 for $4500 ($37,580 in 2021).

High loads have damaged the portal boards and roof braces, due to an unusually short 9-foot (270 cm) clearance.

Controversy

Though the Rock O' The Range Bridge has a roof on it, it is technically not a covered bridge according to the World Guide because it is not supported by a truss.[3][4][5] The World Guide appended a letter to the identification number to make it unique to other covered bridges.

Because of its small size and safety hazard, the bridge is denied maintenance by Deschutes County. Upkeep is performed by homeowners using the bridge.[4]

See also

References
  1. Young, Amalie (8 July 2001). "The bridges in our own back yard". Eugene Register-Guard. pp. 3H. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 9 July 2010.
  3. "Oregon Covered Bridges - Rock O' the Range Bridge, Deschutes County OR". Talent, Oregon: Oregon Travels Visitors Guide. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  4. "Rock O' the Range Bridge". Comcast. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  5. "Swalley Canal (Rock O' The Range) Covered Bridge" (PDF). Oregon Department of Transportation. State of Oregon. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
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