Wooden Covered Bridge

Bridges were really important for the early rural development of Canada and the northern parts of the United States. Winters are much harsher than in Europe, their typical solutions were thus not appropriate. Furthermore, rivers in that part of the world are aplenty and often quite wide. There was a need for a cheaper yet resistant way of crossing the rivers.

The covered bridge, an adapted type of timber-truss bridge was the most efficient solution for 200 years or so of local history. It protected the structure from the freeze-thaw cycles and give the bridges a lifespan of a hundred years instead of 20 years without. On top of this, it was relatively easy to build and it could be adapted to a river’s width by adding more stone-weighted pillars. Finally, wood was really abundant in those regions making it an inexpensive solution.

However, that last fact also meant they were sadly more susceptible to fire whether of natural causes or arson. Of all that were built few remain today. This set is an homage to the early engineering of this part of the world. It is based on the appearance of the now protected longest covered bridge of Québec, the Félix-Gabriel-Marchand bridge in Fort-Coulonge, Québec, Canada.

There was a superstition about those bridges that if you passed on them too quickly, they would fall. This is why they were often called the kissing bridges. Might as well take no chances and pause a little while in the middle of the bridge. This or the fact that having walls, they could allow a quick unnoticeable kiss while walking through 😊!