Lockington Covered Bridge, Lockington Ohio
The Lockington Covered Bridge is located one mile east of the small community of Lockington from which it takes its name. Lockington, formerly known as Lockport, came into being with the building of the Miami and Erie Canal. There are 6 hand-dressed stone locks here which enabled the canal to float the boats up the 67' rise of Loramie Summit which is the highest point in the canal between Cincinnati and Toledo.
The Lockington Covered Bridge is the last such structure in Shelby County and one of only eight Long trusses left in Ohio. At a length of 178', it is also one of the longest covered bridges in Ohio. According to the county engineer, this bridge was built in 1848, which would mean that it was built during the hey-day of the canal when this was a bustling and thriving area.
Bridge Description
The Lockington Covered Bridge is a two-span wooden truss covered bridge spanning the west channel of the Great Miami River one mile east of Lockington in Washington Township section 28, Shelby County, Ohio. This bridge has vertical siding boarded to the eaves, cut stone abutments and pier, a wood shingle roof and straight portals.
This bridge is known as the Lockington Bridge and is built on the Long truss plan which was patented in 1830 by Col. Stephan H. Long of the U. S. Army Topographical Engineers. The Long truss is an all-wooden truss consisting of braces and counterbraces set between wooden verticals. This truss type was different from others used before and it became very popular but was eclipsed ten years later by the Howe truss. The Lockington Bridge is a 20-panel Long truss built in two spans. The overall length is 178' with a clear span of 166'. The roadway width is 16' and the vertical clearance is 11'. The truss verticals are 2-5" x 10"; the braces are 2-5" x 8"; and the counterbraces are 1-5" x 6", Steel channels have been used to reinforce the chords and steel I beams are used for floor beams. There are 2 steel rods on each panel vertical.
With the exception of the mentioned additions of steel reinforcements, the outward appearance of the Lockington Bridge has changed little over the years. The bridge has always been unpainted. The abutments and pier are the original cut stone. The roof is of wooden shingles which is not too common in Ohio covered bridges. The bridge is kept in good condition.
West portal and south side of bridge, looking northeast (1974)
East portal of bridge (1974)
Distant view looking northeast at west portal and south side of bridge (1974)
