Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge
| Salem-Shotwell CB | |
|---|---|
The reconstructed Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge in Opelika, Alabama.
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| Coordinates | 32°39′33.46″N 85°22′52.94″W / 32.6592944°N 85.3813722°WCoordinates: 32°39′33.46″N 85°22′52.94″W / 32.6592944°N 85.3813722°W |
| Carries | pedestrian traffic |
| Crosses | Rocky Brook |
| Locale | Opelika, Alabama |
| Maintained by | City of Opelika |
| ID number | 01-41-B (WGCB) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Town Lattice truss |
| Total length | 43 ft (13 m) |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1900 (rebuilt 2007) |
| Designated | January 25, 1997 |
The Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge, also known as the Pea Ridge Covered Bridge, is a locally owned wooden covered bridge that spans Rocky Brook in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is located halfway down Park Road (formerly the east end of 7th Avenue) at Opelika Municipal Park, which is off North 5th Street in the city of Opelika. Coordinates are 32°39′33.46″N 85°22′52.94″W / 32.6592944°N 85.3813722°W (32.659294, -85.381372).
Originally built in 1900, the 43-foot (13-meter) bridge is a Town Lattice truss construction over a single span. Its WGCB number is 01-41-B, formerly 01-41-04. The bridge was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on January 25, 1977. It was destroyed by a fallen tree in 2005 at its original location near Salem, then rebuilt in 2007 at Opelika Municipal Park. The bridge is maintained by the Opelika Kiwanis Club and the City of Opelika.
The Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge was first built by Otto Puls, originally located over Wacoochee Creek on what is now Shotwell Road (CR 252) just north of the community of Salem (Coordinates 32°36′35.09″N 85°12′30.33″W / 32.6097472°N 85.2084250°W (32.609747, -85.208425)). This was about 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of its current location. At that time, the bridge was 76 feet (23 m) in length...constructed using longleaf heart pine, cedar roof shakes and hand-hewn white oak pegs which joined the latticework, roof trusses and substructure. The bridge shortened the travel time between the communities of Salem and Shotwell. Occasional repairs were made over the years, along with a restoration of the bridge by the Lee County Commission in 1973, but high water and erosion from various storms had once again taken a toll on the bridge supports. Eventually, the Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge was closed to motor traffic in 1994 and left to survive the elements.
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