Three Maryland Covered Bridges

Utica Covered Bridge

Utica Covered Bridge

Roddy Road Covered Bridge

Roddy Road Covered Bridge

 Loys Station Covered Bridge

The Utica Mills Bridge was originally a 250-foot two-space bridge over the nearby Monocacy River, but the same storm front that caused the Johnstown Flood of 1889 washed it away. One span of the bridge was saved and dismantled and two years later it was reconstructed as a 101-foot covered bridge over Fishing Creek on Utica Road near Utica, Maryland. In 1934 the floor of the Utica Mills bridge was reinforced with steel beams and a center pier was added for additional support, but if eventually rusted away to weakness. In 1970, the rafters of the Utica Mills Covered Bridge were replaced, but in 1993 an oversized truck cracked a support beam and upon inspection it was found that termites and post beetles had caused much of the bridge's timber to rot. In December of 1996 a rehabilitation project for began at a cost of $337,000m with the working being done by bridge builders Arnold M. Graton Associates of Ashland, New Hampshire who mostly used hand tools for the wood work, but replaced the rusted steel beamsm thereby increasing the load limit to fifteen tons. The bridge reopened in the spring of 1997. In 2015m the bridge got another rehab with new shingled roof and new purlins, an application of interior fire retardant and a fire alarm system, new wood siding and new portal boards where necessary, and replacement of some deteriorated roof rafters and timber. A new coat of exterior paint, and scour protection for the center support completed the job. Location.

The Roddy Road Bridge is the shortest covered bridge in Maryland at just over 39 feet long. The original bridge at this location was built around 1850, and Jeb Stuart is rumored to have used to bridge to on July 5, 1863, during the Gettsyburg campaign. The original Roddy Road bridge was seriously damaged by a truck in 2016, and it was determined that the bridge timber was too old and deteriorated to repair, so a new replica was built by Heavy Timber Construction of Frederick, Maryland, and the work was completed in 2017. Location.

The Loys Station Covered Bridge was originally built in 1848 to cross Owens Creek near Loys, Maryland, but it was burned by arson in 1991. It is said that on July 7, 1863, after the battle at Gettsyburg, General George Meade crossed the Loys Station Covered Bridge while pursuing the retreating Confederate Army. The bridge was rebuilt in 1994, with much of the cost paid for by Frederick County's Insurance company who sought restitution from the two men who burned the bridge. In 2015, the Loys Station Bridge received an application of interior fire retardant, a fresh coat of exterior paint, and a children's picnic park was constructed next to the bridge. Location.