Covered Bridges on Two Wheels

Located just north of the Tunbridge town line, in Chelsea, is the Moxley Bridge - one of several in the Tunbridge area. The bridge has also been known as the Guy Bridge, but I have not found the origin of either name.

There are no records of any major work done to this bridge other than the addition of distribution beams underneath the deck. A possible explanation for the bridge's good health lies in the fact that the White River is very shallow here. Over-sized equipment has been driving through the river instead of risking the bridge. It may mar the landscape, but it probably has extended the life of the bridge.

One thing that I did notice about this bridge even though there appear to be furring strips upon which the siding is laid, closer inspection shows that the siding is attached directly to the trusses without an air gap. This is generally not the accepted way of siding a covered bridge because it allows water to get trapped between the siding and the trusses, promoting rot. That being said, the lack of major repairs to the bridge indicates that this method of construction apparently has not caused a problem.

The only other thing that I will say about this bridge is that along with the Larkin Bridge, it is built on a skew. On the Larkin Bridge's page, I explain in more detail what being built on a skew means. In addition to the photos and visual aids on that page, also note in the slideshow above how the road meets the bridge at an angle, not straight on.

Visiting the bridge:

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For motorcyclists, Moxley Road is unpaved, but you will not have to travel very far at all to get to the bridge from Route 110.

There is no established parking at the bridge, but paths leading to the river ford may provide some parking opportunities... as long as no traffic attempts to cross. When I visited, I didn't even see one car, much less a truck utilizing the crossing.

On the other side of the bridge is a private driveway where there may be enough room to park out of the roadway and out of the river crossing. That is where you see my motorcycle parked in the background photo. Also on this side of the bridge is a neat little brook that tumbles down a rocky bed into the river.

If you continue on down Moxley Road, instead of doubling back to the main road, you will come to the Flint Bridge about a mile away.