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Humpback Bridge

Posted by Beckie (New Hope, United States) on 23 May 2007 in Architecture and Portfolio.

Humpback Bridge - Three miles west of Covington, adjacent to U S Route 60 is Humpback Bridge Wayside Park. Built for the old James River and Kanawha Turnpike Company, it served many a traveler until 1929, when it was abandoned for traffic with the completion of the Midland Trail. The bridge was restored by the State Highway Department in 1954 which matched a $5,000 fund raised locally by the Covington Business and Professional women's Club. The wayside park was established at the same time. The five-acre area was cleared, picnic tables, fireplaces, restrooms and drinking fountain provided. The grounds were landscaped, but allowed to keep the natural, rustic appearance and over a hundred specimens of trees and shrubs native to the area have been tagged. Humpback Bridge, unique in bridge designs in the United States, has its original hand-hewn timbers which are put together with hand-made locust pins. The span is 120 feet long, with abutments placed 100 feet apart, with no middle support. The center of the floor and roof is about four feet higher than at the ends, thus giving the humped appearance from whence it was named. It is the only bridge of its design in the United States.
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KODAK Z740 ZOOM
1/180 second
F/2.8
ISO 80
40 mm