Bridges Covered: New Brunswick's Quirk

New Brunswick's covered bridges are iconic structures that are integral to the province's history and development. With 58 covered bridges, New Brunswick boasts nearly half of Canada's historic covered bridges. These bridges are not just aesthetic landmarks but functional, facilitating daily traffic across rivers and streams. They are also known as kissing bridges from the days of horse-drawn buggies, when couples would steal a kiss away from prying eyes. The longest covered bridge in the world is found in Hartland, New Brunswick, spanning 1,282 feet (391 metres) across the Saint John River. While these bridges face threats from natural forces, accidents, and lack of maintenance, efforts are being made to preserve them as they symbolise the province's growth and prosperity.

The history of covered bridges in New Brunswick

New Brunswick's covered bridges are some of the most iconic and beautiful structures in the Canadian province. There are 58 of them, close to half of the 131 historic covered bridges in the country. While that may sound impressive, there were around 340 in the 1940s and 1950s. Over the years, many deteriorated and were replaced by modern structures, while some were lost to floods.

Covered bridges are primarily an Eastern Canadian thing, with the vast majority occurring in either New Brunswick or Quebec. Timber-truss bridges used to be covered with siding and roofs to protect the wood from the elements. While built for practical purposes, they also have aesthetic appeal. They are an important link to the past and New Brunswickers consider the bridges an essential part of their heritage. The province has a Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, and there is even an annual celebration called Love Your Covered Bridges Days.

The Hartland Covered Bridge is the longest covered bridge in the world, spanning 1,282 feet (391 metres). It was constructed in 1901 and covered 20 years later. It was considered an engineering marvel at the time, although not everyone was in favour of covering it. Some feared that covering a bridge that long would corrupt the morals of young people. The roof also kept snow off the bridge, which was a problem because people still used horse-drawn sleighs in the 1920s, so they had to haul snow onto the bridge for the sleighs to get across.

The most recent covered bridge constructed in New Brunswick is the Vaughan Creek Covered Bridge, which was reconstructed to add a second lane. It is the only two-lane covered bridge in the province. The county with the most covered bridges is Kings County with 15, while Northumberland and Victoria counties each have one. Additionally, both Restigouche and Gloucester counties have no covered bridges.

The Hartland Covered Bridge

On April 6, 1920, two spans of the bridge collapsed due to river ice, and it was reopened in 1922 after repairs and the addition of a cover. The wooden piers were also converted to concrete during this time. The bridge was met with some local opposition, with concerns that a covered bridge would negatively influence the morals of young people in the area.

A pedestrian walkway was added to the bridge in 1945, and it has since become a popular tourist attraction. The bridge was declared a National Historic Site in 1980 and a Provincial Historic Site in 1999. It is now used exclusively for local and tourist traffic, with a weight limit of 10 tonnes and a height restriction of 4.20 metres.

The Patrick Owens Covered Bridge

The bridge is fully functional and carries traffic across the river every day. However, it is important to note that these covered bridges were built for slower-moving vehicles, so caution must be exercised when driving through. It is recommended to approach the bridge at lower speeds and be mindful of the weight restrictions in place.

The Smyth Covered Bridge

The bridge has a total length of 139 1/2", a span of 136 1/2", a roadway width of 14' 9", a maximum load of 10 t (6 t for double-axle vehicles), and a center clearance height of 3.7 m.

In 1992, the oldest dates found carved into the bridge were 'Oct 3, 1915 Sunday' under the initials 'R K' and 'Feb 1931' beside the initials 'LTF' and 'LEIK'. A few other deeply carved initials were also found, including 'M B', 'R H', 'C B', and 'CED ER May 63'.

The pools under and above the bridge are popular fishing spots, and it is also a good place to launch or take out a canoe or kayak. There is a gravel beach and wading and swimming area upstream of the bridge.

The decline of covered bridges in New Brunswick

New Brunswick's covered bridges are an iconic part of the Canadian province's heritage and are considered engineering marvels. However, their numbers have declined over the years, with only 58 remaining today out of the approximately 340 that existed in the 1940s and 1950s. This decline can be attributed to various factors, including flooding, maintenance issues, accidents, vandalism, and a lack of expert attention and maintenance.

The covered bridges of New Brunswick were built to protect the timber-truss bridges from the elements. They are primarily found in Eastern Canada, with the majority in New Brunswick and Quebec. These bridges are not just a symbol of the province's heritage but also represent its growth and prosperity in the 20th century. They were once an essential part of the transportation network, connecting communities across New Brunswick.

However, over time, many of these bridges deteriorated and were replaced by modern structures. Some were lost to floods, and others fell into disrepair due to a lack of maintenance. In recent years, there have been efforts to preserve and restore some of these bridges, with the provincial government developing a strategy to restore a few of them.

The decline of New Brunswick's covered bridges can be attributed to a combination of natural forces, accidents, and a lack of maintenance and expert attention. The remaining bridges continue to be at risk of irreparable damage or demolition, threatening the survival of these iconic structures.

Despite the decline in numbers, New Brunswick still boasts the world's longest covered bridge in Hartland, spanning 390 metres (1,282 feet) across the Saint John River. This bridge, built in 1901 and covered in 1921, is a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the world.

While the covered bridges of New Brunswick are declining in number, their importance to the province's history and culture remains strong, and efforts are being made to preserve them for future generations.

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