Destination Illinois: The Covered Bridges of Central Illinois

CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — To ensure grain, corn, and different items acquired to the place they wanted to go, bridges had been wanted to make that occur. A few of these bridges had been lined bridges that also stand to this present day. Vacation spot Illinois’ Jack Gerfen takes us on a tour to 4 bridges in Central Illinois.

What was as soon as an important method to cross a river is now a well-liked kind of sight-seeing vacation spot.

And whereas a few of the lined bridges in Central Illinois are too outdated, this one in Mahomet, Illinois is one you possibly can nonetheless drive over.

Jack Gerfen, Mahomet, Illinois for Vacation spot Illlinois

Their development not solely makes them photogenic, it’s essential to their design to distribute the load to hold a heavy load. Some could not serve the unique goal they had been constructed to do, however they do give us a cause to take the backroads for a glance again in historical past.

Whereas Indiana is understood for his or her lined bridges, 4 of those bridges nonetheless exist in Central Illinois.

SUGAR CREEK COVERED BRIDGE

Sugar Creek Coated Bridge to the southeast of Chatham is the oldest one on the listing. Constructed by Thomas Black in 1827, it spans 110 toes over the Sugar Creek. It has been closed to visitors since 1984, however could be loved in a park on foot. With it solely minutes from the Glenarm exit off of I-55, it’s straightforward to get to.

THOMPSON MILL COVERED BRIDGE

About an hour and 20 minutes southeast from there’s the Thompson Mill Coated Bridge in Cowden.

It’s solely in Central Illinois that you just’ll discover the Thompson Mill bridge. That really is the narrowest lined bridge in all of Illinois.

Jack Gerfen, Cowden, Illinois for Vacation spot Illinois

In-built 1868 at a price of $2,500, this bridge crosses the Kaskaskia River to supply the close by Thompson Mill an entry level to the necessary Springfield to Effingham route. Now, you possibly can solely stroll throughout it.

From the narrowest lined bridge, we are going to go 50 minutes east to the longest lined bridge within the state, the Cumberland County Coated Bridge following Outdated Freeway 40.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY COVERED BRIDGE

Spanning 200 toes over the Embarass River, that is the most recent bridge. It was accomplished in 2000 to duplicate the unique Jackson Coated Bridge from 1832 that suffered quite a few washouts. It was even a part of the route for the 2021 Sizzling Rod Energy Tour!

The ultimate bridge on the listing is one other hour and 20 minutes to the north, within the lovely Lake of the Woods Forest Protect in Mahomet.

Simply a good way to get the group and the world concerned. Folks come right here for footage, whether or not or not it’s for senior footage, household footage, promenade.

Lisa Sprinkle, Advertising and marketing Supervisor, Champaign County Forest Protect District

LAKE OF THE WOODS COVERED BRIDGE

This bridge was initially constructed within the Sixties over 18 months to attach the 2 sides of the forest protect. Designed by College of Illinois Civil Engineering teacher German Gurfinkel, it’ll bear some roof renovations later this yr and is probably going the busiest by way of visitors on the listing.

All of those bridges are free and look nice in all 4 seasons!