Wimer Bridge Down

From newspaper reports

 

Jackson County, OR, July 6, 2003 - The covered bridge near Wimer, Oregon fell into Evens Creek shortly after a car crossed. Also crossing at the time were a grandfather and his two grandchildren.

Rescued from the wreckage of the bridge by people from the neighborhood, the three were taken to local hospitals by the Evans Valley Fire Department.

The 85-foot Wimer Bridge was built in 1927 using the queen post truss. The bridge replaced another covered bridge built in 1892. The second bridge was condemned as unsafe in 1956, repaired in 1962 and reopened to traffic. It has been repaired in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, and slated for overhaul in 2002. Preliminary work was done by Jackson County.

The bridge was to have been renovated in 2005, funded by a grant from the Federal Highway Administration's Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program The award, $528,480, was to have covered 80 percent of the project.

The Wimer Bridge was listed on the National Register for Historic Places in 1979. One of four covered bridges in Jackson county, it was the only one open to traffic. The posted load capacity was three tons.

For details of the incident go to the Mail Tribune, of Medford, OR website and to The Rogue River Press website.