Roberts Covered Bridge

The Roberts Bridge, Ohio’s oldest remaining covered bridge and the second oldest in the U.S., is also the nation’s oldest dual wagon-way bridge. It underwent numerous repairs and revisions at its Old Camden Road location. By the 1980s, much of its protective structure needed replacement, but the load-bearing bridge remained intact.

As other covered bridges disappeared across the country, the Roberts Bridge gained attention from historical and engineering communities. Recognized by the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers in 1962 and nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, it faced challenges after being bypassed by U.S. Route 127, leading to vandalism and a damaging fire on August 5, 1986.

A restoration committee was formed, deciding to restore the original Burr trusses that survived the fire and relocate the bridge to a more secure site. Fundraising efforts began in 1988 and the restoration project was completed in 1991.