Bridgeport Covered Bridge

Bridgeport Covered Bridge
View of the Bridgeport Covered Bridge, February 2025
Coordinates39°17′33.86″N 121°11′41.66″W / 39.2927389°N 121.1949056°W / 39.2927389; -121.1949056
CarriesPedestrian
CrossesSouth Yuba River
LocaleNevada County, California
Characteristics
DesignHowe truss with auxiliary arch covered bridge
Total length233 feet (71 m)
Longest span208 feet (63 m)
Load limit13 Tons (Current estimate at 3 tons due to age of timbers)
History
DesignerDavid Ingefield Wood
Opened1862
Bridgeport Covered Bridge
Nearest cityFrench Corral, CA
Built1862
Architectural styleHowe truss with an auxiliary Burr Arch Truss
NRHP reference No.71000168
CHISL No.390
Added to NRHPJuly 14, 1971
Location

The Bridgeport Covered Bridge is located in Bridgeport, Nevada County, California, southwest of French Corral and north of Lake Wildwood. It is used as a pedestrian crossing over the South Yuba River. The bridge was built in 1862 by David John Wood. Its lumber came from Plum Valley in Sierra County, California. The bridge was closed to vehicular traffic in 1972 and pedestrian traffic in 2011 due to deferred maintenance and "structural problems".

On June 20, 2014, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed budget legislation that included $1.3 million for the bridge's restoration. The work was slated to be done in two phases—near-term stabilization followed by restoration. The bridge reopened to pedestrians in November 2021 following completion of the restoration work.

The Bridgeport Covered Bridge has the longest clear single span of any surviving wooden covered bridge in the world.