Oregon Covered Bridges Oregon has one of the largest concentrations of covered bridges in the United States, numbering more than fifty.  Lane County in western Oregon has 20+ covered bridges, giving it the distinction of having more covered bridges than any county west of the Mississippi River.Covered bridges were originally built for practical reasons.  The roof and sides kept the wooden decks and trusses from rotting too quickly in the rainy Pacific Northwest.  In the late 1800s and early 20th century, steel and concrete were hard to come by.  It was common for builders, using hand tools like the adz, broadax, and auger, to cut nearby trees and construct the framework by hand on the riverbank.Wildcat Covered Bridge Travelers between Eugene and Florence can see Wildcat Covered Bridge a... 02/16/2018

   Wildcat Covered Bridge Travelers along Highway 126 between Eugene and Florence on the Oregon Coast pass by within easy view of the Wildcat Covered Bridge.  Yet few motorists probably realize the bridge is even there. Lane County, Oregon is home to the largest concentration of covered bridges west of the Mississippi River.  The bridges were covered to protect the large wooden trusses from the rain, thus greatly prolonging the life of the bridge. Wildcat Covered Bridge spans Wildcat Creek near where it enters the Siuslaw River.  This road was the original local route to the Pacific Ocean before a Coast Range tunnel allowed travelers on Highway 126 to more quickly reach Florence and the Coast.  The 75-foot long bridge was built in 1925.  The nearby Austa boat ramp provides easy access t... 03/29/2014