Swann Covered Bridge

Infobox_nrhp | name = Swann CB
nrhp_type =

---

caption = The Swann Covered Bridge near Cleveland, Alabama.
nearest_city = Cleveland, AL
lat_degrees = 33 | lat_minutes = 59 | lat_seconds = 51.35 | lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 86 | long_minutes = 36 | long_seconds = 5.13 | long_direction = W
area =
built = 1933
added = August 20, 1981
governing_body = County
refnum=81000123 cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-08-14|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=U.S. National Park Service]

Infobox Bridge
bridge_name=Swann CB


caption=
official_name=
carries=single lane motor traffic
crosses=Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River
locale=Cleveland, Alabama
maint=Blount County Commission
id=01-05-05 (WGCB)
design=Town Lattice truss
mainspan=
length=324 ft (99 m)
width=10 ft (3 m) clearance
height=
load=3 US tons (2.72 metric tons)
clearance=9 ft (3 m)
below=
traffic=
begin=
complete=1933
open=
closed=
toll=
map_cue=
map_

map_text=
map_width=
coordinates= coord|33|59|51.35|N|86|36|5.13|W|region:US_type:landmark
lat=
long=

The Swann Covered Bridge, also called the Joy Covered Bridge or Swann-Joy Covered Bridge, is a county owned wood & metal combination style covered bridge that spans the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River in Blount County, Alabama, United States. It is located on Swann Bridge Road off State Route 79 just west of the town of Cleveland, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) northwest of Oneonta. Coordinates are coor dms|33|59|51.35|N|86|36|5.13|W|city (33.997597, -86.601425).

Built in 1933, the 324-foot (99-meter) bridge is a Town Lattice truss construction over three spans. Its WGCB number is 01-05-05. The Swann Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 20, 1981. It is currently the longest existing covered bridge in Alabama and one of the longest in the United States. The bridge remains open to single lane motor traffic, maintained by the Blount County Commission and the Alabama Department of Transportation.

History

The Swann Covered Bridge was built by a crew led by Zelma C. Tidwell and uncle Forrest Tidwell over a scenic gorge of the Locust Fork on property owned by the Swann Farm. It was originally dubbed the 'Joy Covered Bridge' as the bridge connected Cleveland with the nearby community of Joy. The bridge was restored by the Blount County Commission in 1979. After the 385-foot Nectar Covered Bridge (also located in Blount County) burned down in 1993, the Swann Covered Bridge became the longest covered bridge existing in Alabama. It is one of three historic covered bridges remaining in Blount County.

Dimensions

Main Span Length: 75.1 ft (22.9 m)

Total Span Length: 330.1 ft (100.6 m)

Deck Width: 16.1 ft (4.9 m)

Vertical Clearance: 13.0 ft (4.0 m)

Underclearance: 27.0 ft (8.2 m)

"Above measurements are approximate and unofficial. Total span length is not always the same as total bridge length." cite web|url=http://bridgehunter.com/al/blount/1644/|title=Historic Bridges Database|date=2007-11-08|work=Historic Bridges of the United States|publisher=James Baughn]

References

* Dale J. Travis Covered Bridges. [http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/alabama/htm/0100505.htm Swann CB: Credits] . Retrieved Aug. 15, 2007.
* Bridges to the Past: Alabama's Covered Bridges. [http://www.alabamatv.org/bridges/photos.htm Swann CB: Credits] . Retrieved Aug. 15, 2007.
* Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel. [http://www.800alabama.com/ Swann CB: Credits] . Retrieved Aug. 15, 2007.
* "The Decatur Daily". [http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/061101/covered.shtml Swann CB: Credits] . Retrieved Aug. 15, 2007.
* Alabamiana: A Guide to Alabama. [http://www.al.com/alabamiana/index.ssf?bridges.html Swann CB: Credits] . Retrieved Aug. 15, 2007.
* American Profile.com. [http://www.americanprofile.com/article/282.html Swann CB:Credits] . Retrieved Aug. 15, 2007.
* BhamWiki. [http://www.bhamwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Horton_Mill_Bridge Swann CB: Credits] . Retrieved Aug. 17, 2007.
* Southern Living: Tunnels in Time. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3676/is_199710/ai_n8774851 Swann CB: Credits] . Retrieved Sep. 24, 2007.

ee also

*List of Alabama covered bridges

External links

* [http://www.alabamatv.org/bridges/photos.htm Bridges to the Past: Alabama's Covered Bridges]
* [http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/alabama/htm/0100505.htm Swann Covered Bridge (Dale J. Travis)]