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Despite Difficult Years, County’s Covered Bridges Persevere
DESPITE DIFFICULT YEARS,
County’s Covered Bridges Persevere
Frederick County is home to more than 212 bridges that span 20 feet or more, and 29 of them are considered historic. Ten are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Roddy Road covered bridge rests just north of Thurmont off of U.S. Route 15, where Roddy Creek Road meets Roddy Road at Owens Creek. The bridge was built by the Roddy family about 1856, and is a single-span Kingpost design bridge measuring 40 feet long. It is the shortest covered bridge in Maryland, and is also the only one with a single kingpost truss, a truss frequently used for smaller bridges.
Its stone abutments were rehabilitated in the late 1970s, and truck damage was repaired in 1992. Two contractors worked to fully rehabilitate the bridge in 1995.
The original bridge sustained heavy damage by an oversized truck in June 2016. After dismantling the bridge and realizing that its existing timber was not reusable, an entirely new replica bridge was built. Dean Fitzgerald of Frederick, owner of Heavy Timber Construction, built the bridge that now stands at Roddy Road.
When the new bridge was built, a new park was also constructed nearby, with a parking lot for visitors, a short walking trail, playground and restrooms. Bars were placed at both ends of the bridge to prevent oversized trucks from entering and damaging it once more.
Roddy Road covered bridge, just after completion in April 2017.
Loys Station Covered Bridge, April 2017 The Loys Station covered bridge was originally built with a multiple Kingpost design around 1880 on Old Frederick Road, just south of Md. Route 77, near the small towns of Loys, Rocky Ridge and Graceham. The original bridge was ruined by fire in 1991, and was structurally modified and rebuilt. The bridge’s original timbers remain throughout the 90-foot long structure crossing Owens Creek. At one time the Western Maryland Railroad had a station stop at Loys, so the bridge became known as Loys Station Covered Bridge. It is believed that on July 7, 1863, after the Civil War battle at Gettysburg, Gen. George Meade crossed Loys Station Covered Bridge while pursuing the retreating Confederate Army.
In spring 2015 Loys Station Bridge received further updates, with an application of interior fire retardant, a fresh coat of exterior paint and a major renovation to its park and playground.
The Utica Mills covered bridge, originally built around 1850 over the Monocacy River, was located on Utica Road off Old Frederick Road. The bridge was washed away during a severe storm in 1889. Local residents gathered the remains and reconstructed the 101- foot long Burr Arch design bridge at its present location crossing Fishing Creek. In 1993 an oversized truck cracked a support beam, and afterward it was discovered that termites and post beetles had caused much of the bridge’s timber to rot. A rehabilitation project began in December 1996 and finished in spring 1997. Another rehabilitation of the bridge was begun in 2015. A new shingled roof and fire retardants, fire alarms and wood siding were added, among other updates.
Take a tour of the covered bridges
From the City of Frederick, a driving tour of Frederick County’s covered bridges is about 33 miles, roundtrip. Start the tour north of Frederick at the junction of U.S. Route 15 and Old Frederick Road. Turn right onto Old Frederick Road. Drive 1.5 miles and make a left onto Utica Road, to Utica Covered Bridge. Return to Old Frederick Road and make a left onto Old Frederick Road. Drive 3.9 miles to a stop sign. At the stop sign make a left onto Md. Route 550. Drive 0.4 miles and make a right onto Old Frederick Road. Travel 2 miles and make a left into the parking lot of Loy’s Station Park. From the parking lot of Loy’s Station Park, make a left and go through the bridge. Drive 0.3 miles to a stop sign. Make a left onto Rocky Ridge Road (Md. Route 77). Drive 2.7 miles on Rocky Ridge Road and make a right on Apples Church Road in Thurmont. Go straight on this road for 1.6 miles to the bridge (the road will become Roddy Road at the Graceham intersection). Drive through the Roddy Road Bridge to a parking lot on the left. Getting back to Frederick: From the parking lot of the Roddy Road Covered Bridge make a right onto Roddy Creek Road. Drive 0.4 miles to a stop sign at the junction of U.S. Route 15. The ride back to the starting point is about 15 miles.
