Hi Rhonda, Why did they build covered bridges in the Eastern states of the USA? We never had them back in Britain, and I am not aware of them in Northern Europe either. Penny from Edinburgh.
I ask that question during my latest trip. Most older bridges were completely wood and it protects the wood for the weather, especially the brutal cold. Water in the flat road timbers would freeze and crack the wood. Without a cover, I was told, the bridge surface would only last a year.
Thanks for that answer. In Britain, we have a maritime climate, so typically it only gets to a few degrees below freezing (in Centigrade). Also, historically getting stone to build bridges here was seldom a problem, so from medieval times onwards most of our bridges were built of stone, until we started building them of iron and steel and subsequently of reinforced concrete. Penny from Edinburgh.
Hi Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteWhy did they build covered bridges in the Eastern states of the USA? We never had them back in Britain, and I am not aware of them in Northern Europe either.
Penny from Edinburgh.
I ask that question during my latest trip. Most older bridges were completely wood and it protects the wood for the weather, especially the brutal cold. Water in the flat road timbers would freeze and crack the wood. Without a cover, I was told, the bridge surface would only last a year.
DeleteThanks for that answer. In Britain, we have a maritime climate, so typically it only gets to a few degrees below freezing (in Centigrade).
ReplyDeleteAlso, historically getting stone to build bridges here was seldom a problem, so from medieval times onwards most of our bridges were built of stone, until we started building them of iron and steel and subsequently of reinforced concrete.
Penny from Edinburgh.