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Cecil
County, Maryland
(WGN
20-07-01) (WGCB MD-07-01): (1860; restored 1959; repaired
1990) Single-span multiple Kingpost truss with Burr Arch 119' 6"
over North East Creek. Located: In Bay View, Maryland on
a bypassed section of Northeast Road. Directions: From I-95,
at exit 100 take SR 272 north 1.2 miles to the bridge, on the right.
Alternate directions: From jct. US 40 (Pulaski Highway) and SR 279
(Elkton Road) in Elkton, Maryland take US 40 (Pulaski Highway) 12.2 miles
west to right on SR 222 (Perryville Road) 1.2 miles to left on SR 272 North
1.2 miles to the bridge on the right. Built in December
1860, at a cost of $2,000, near several mills. Gilpin's Falls and
remnants of the millrace are just downstream of the bridge. It is
the only authentic Maryland covered bridge that is closed to all traffic.
It was bypassed by the concrete bridge, just upstream, between 1930 and
1937. The roof collapsed from the heavy snows of early 1958 and the
entire structure was near collapse when it was restored in 1959 by the
joint efforts of the State of Maryland Road Commission and the Historical
Society of Cecil County. Further extensive repairs were made, including
repainting, in 1990. Is the longest authentic covered bridge in Maryland.
The bridge has a twelve-panel single-post, multiple Kingpost truss sandwiched
between double Burr arches. The arches are unusual in that they are
each made from two separate pieces of timber. The sides and portals
are covered with faded barn red painted siding open under the eves for
ventilation and there one framed horizontal window opening, opposing, along
each side. The bridge has a shaker roof and severely weathered plank
siding. The floor has diagonal planking and a shaker roof. The bridge
is again in need of repair with a serious sag on the downstream side, and
the abutments under the Burr arch, also on the downstream side have broken
away. It has locked iron gates on both entrances with a sign stating:
"KEEP OFF/BRIDGE UNSAFE." Also known as the Bayview Covered Bridge
and the
Gilpin Covered Bridge. (Jun 2008) |
