Covered Bridges on Two Wheels

While this bridge has been known by many names, it is officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the Orne Bridge (not to be confused with the Mt. Orne Bridge in Lunenburg).

It is more commonly known as the Irasburg Bridge (for the town it is located in) or the Black River Bridge (for the waterway it crosses). Being just over the town line from Coventry (pronounced locally as CAW-vin-tree), it is sometimes known as the Coventry Bridge as well. Finally, because it was downstream from another covered bridge that existed at one time, it is was also called the Lower Bridge.

The bridge currently on the site was built in 1999. On Halloween night of 1997, the previous one, built in 1881, was destroyed by arson. (The persons responsible were caught and convicted). Since it is essentially brand new, the bridge is in excellent shape. But also due to its construction, it should remain that way for quite some time.

The Paddleford trusses were built with huge timbers... some of (if not the) largest bridge timbers I have encountered. While the dimensions of the truss members are not completely true to the original patented design of the Paddleford truss (and thus considered to be a modification), it is still an authentically constructed covered bridge that was also designed to handle modern vehicle traffic.

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This bridge shares a trait with the Columbia Bridge in Lemington, VT (and shared with Columbia, NH) in that one truss is completely covered in siding, while the other is covered only half-way.

Long-time Irasburg town selectman Roy Ingalls is honored by having his name placed on the portals, and he was one of the first persons across the newly rebuilt bridge.

Visiting the bridge:

While technically in the Town of Irasburg, the bridge is more easily reached by coming through Coventry. The small village is now bypassed by Route 5/Route 14 and the town green is a quintessential small town scene. From the Coventry town green, Back Coventry Road turns from pavement to dirt and crosses into Irasburg before you get to the bridge. I found it to be in good condition for motorcycle riding when I visited.

Parking at the bridge has not been formally established. On the Irasburg side there is a wide spot in the road that can accommodate one vehicle, but it is pretty soft dirt and could be pretty messy if it's recently rained.

Be sure to take note at just how large the timbers are, and the complex joinery of the Paddleford truss. Then travel the short distance to the Lord's Creek Bridge (also a Paddleford truss) for a huge contrast in bridge conditions.