Photos
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2008 Wimer Covered Bridge New bridge rebuilt after 2003 collapse of the old structure Photo taken by Michael Goff on August 3, 2008 |
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2008 Wimer Covered Bridge - South Portal Photo taken by Michael Goff on August 3, 2008 |
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2008 Wimer Covered Bridge - Plaque Photo taken by Michael Goff on August 3, 2008 |
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Wimer Covered Bridge Collapsed on July 6, 2003
Courtesy of Bob and Mary Gail |
Map
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Description
The Wimer Bridge was saved from destruction when local residents battled to initiate a rebuilding of the weakened structure in 1962. Community members insist that the original bridge was built in 1892, and a sign posted on the bridge claims title to that date. The Hartman brothers, bridge builders of Jacksonville, replaced the Wimer Bridge in 1927.Features of the Wimer covered span include a shingle roof, the usual daylighting narrow windows above the trusses, wooden flooring, and a Queenpost truss design. The bridge appears not unlike a barn from downstream and only the flying buttresses indicate it to be a covered bridge and not a barn over water. Although refurbished in 1962, the bridge had a load limit of 8 tons placed on it by the mid 1970s and deterioration soon closed it to vehicular traffic. In 1985, the wooden bridge was rehabilitated and the 8 ton load limit restored.
However, the span of 85 feet is too long for the Queenpost truss, and the buttresses do not adequately support the top chord. Now, the east truss has severe bowing and sweep, and the bridge exhibits large movements when cars pass, so the bridge currently has a 3 ton load limit and is slated for rehabilitation using National Historic Covered Bridge funds.
(Reference: Roofs Over Rivers, by Bill and Nick Cockrell)
NOTE: BRIDGE DESCRIPTION ABOVE WRITTEN PRIOR TO 2003 COLLAPSE.
Facts
- Overview
- Covered bridge over Evans Creek on CR 887
- Location
- Wimer, Jackson County, Oregon
- Status
- Open to traffic
- History
- Original Built 1892, Rebuilt 1927, Rebuilt 1962, Collapsed 2003, Rebuilt 2008
- Design
- Covered Through truss
- Dimensions
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Length of largest span: 86.0 ft.
Total length: 170.9 ft.
Deck width: 17.1 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 10.1 ft.
- Recognition
- Posted to the National Register of Historic Places
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +42.53806, -123.14944 (decimal degrees)
42°32'17" N, 123°08'58" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 10/487728/4709529 (zone/easting/northing)
- USGS topographic map
- Wimer
- Inventory number
- BH 29997 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
- Inspection (as of 04/2008)
- Deck condition rating: Very Good (8 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Very Good (8 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Very Good (8 out of 9)
Appraisal: Not deficient
Sufficiency rating: 87.1 (out of 100) - Average daily traffic (as of 2007)
- 778
Sources
- Michael Goff - michael [dot] goff [at] odot [dot] state [dot] or [dot] us
- Citizens for Rebuilding the Wimer Covered Bridge - Information on the Wimer Covered Bridge including photos.
- Wimer Covered Bridge - ODOT - Covered Bridge Guide
Comments
You want to see pictures of the Wimer Covered Bridge - the entire rebuilding process is covered photographically at http://www.catNcap.com/bridge/