Carries Bowery Lane Maintained by Local Homeowners Clearance above 12.3 feet (3.7 m) Opened 1963 Area 404.7 m² Construction end 1963 | Crosses Swalley Canal Design Covered Constructed by Maurice Olson Total length 13 m Bridge type Covered bridge Added to NRHP 29 November 1979 | |
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Similar Covered bridge, Cedar Crossing Bridge, Pengra Bridge, Irish Bend Covered Bridge, Wildcat Creek Bridge | ||
The Rock O' the Range Bridge, also called the Swalley Canal Bridge, is a bridge located north of Bend, Oregon, U.S., on a street adjacent to U.S. Route 97. It is the only covered span in the state of Oregon on the east side of the Cascade Range. It is also one of very few privately owned covered bridges in Oregon.
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History
William Bowen, a proprietor of land north of Bend, was forced to build an access road across the Swalley Canal to access his property. His bridge was inspired by the Goodpasture Bridge in Lane County. Bowen hired Maurice Olson to build the bridge; it was finished in 1963 for $4500 ($35,203 in 2017).
High loads have damaged the portal boards and roof braces, due to an unusually short 9-foot (270 cm) clearance.
Controversy
Though the Rock O' The Range Bridge has a roof on it, it is technically not a covered bridge according to the World Guide because it is not supported by a truss. The World Guide appended a letter to the identification number to make it unique to other covered bridges.
Because of its small size and safety hazard, the bridge is denied maintenance by Deschutes County. Upkeep is performed by homeowners using the bridge.