Lee's Creek Covered Bridge, Dover Kentucky

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The Lee's Creek Covered Bridge, built in 1845, is probably the oldest covered bridge in Kentucky. It has had two complete restorations, the first by the Bowers of Flemingsburg in 1928. The last restoration was in 1966 after a tornado struck the area. Restoration was carried out by the Kentucky Department of Highways at a cost of $16,000 dollars.

Originally a toll bridge, it still serves the community of Dover without the tollgate.

At one time Kentucky had hundreds of covered bridges spanning her rivers. Just prior to World War II, sixty-five were still standing. By 1952, the numbers had shrunk to thirty-nine. Now only sixteen remain. These sixteen, which represent a variety of structural types, are concentrated in the central and northeast sections of the state in the small communities or rural areas of the state.

Many reasons have been offered to explain the construction of covered bridges in Kentucky during the 19^th century. The road across the bridges were kept dry and free of snow in winter. Most important, however, was the protection the covering over the bridges provided against the deterioration of the wood. It permitted the timbered trusses and braces to season properly and kept water out of the joints. The life of the bridge was, therefore, significantly prolonged, averaging, generally seven to eight times that of one left uncovered.

Bridge Description

The Lee's Creek Covered Bridge at Dover is located about 700 feet off Kentucky Route #8 on the Tuckahoe Road.

The bridge appears to be in good condition. Constructed on the queenpost design with internal wind bracing, it crosses Lee's Creek in a single 63-foot span. The walls are vertically paralleled and the roof is of corrugated sheet metal. Steel guard rails lead up the approaches to the bridge and the asphalt pavement extends through the entire length of the bridge. The old stone abutments have been supplanted by reinforced concrete.

The Lee's Creek (also called Dover) Covered Bridge in Mason County is 63 feet in length, according to Kentucky's Department of Transportation measurements.

Although exact construction dates of Kentucky's covered bridges are often difficult to ascertain, it is thought the Lee's Creek bridge was built c. 1845.

(1975)

(1975)