Riverbend Timber Framing's Lockport Bridge Recieves National Award

Riverbend Timber Framing and its project partners have received the National Timber Bridge Award of Merit for the Lockport Ohio Covered Bridge, which spans the Tiffin River in Northwest Ohio.

The bridge was chosen from more than fifty entries nationwide, and was noted for its design innovation, visual appeal, cost effectiveness, sound engineering principles, and innovative and efficient use of wood products. Riverbend, Williams County Engineer's Office, SSOE Designers, and SE Johnson Inc. were all presented with the national award sponsored by the APA-The Engineered Wood Association, American Institute of Timber Construction, the U.S. Forest Service-Wood in Transportation Program, and the Federal Highway Administration.

Supporting sponsors are American Wood Preservers Institute and Roads & Bridges Magazine.
The Lockport Covered Bridge, completed in 1999, was an unusual project that restored a 1919 steel truss bridge back to its original 1860s wooden covered condition. The restoration project required 211,800 board feet of timbers and planks equaling 40.1 miles of wood, and requiring 18 truckloads to deliver. The new timber bridge is 54.5 m (180ft) long and 11 m (36 ft) wide. Glued laminated timber deck panels are supported on glulam timber stringers. Authentic Howe Trusses support the roof, sidewalls, and a pedestrian walkway.

Of historical significance is the wide use of traditional mortise and tenon joinery for both the laminated beams and sawn timbers. These wooden joints held together with oak pegs were more economical than steel connections and were used selectively where wood joinery would handle the design loads. The Lockport Covered Bridge is located in Williams County Ohio and carries traffic across the Tiffin River on County Road I-25 between West Unity and Stryker.

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