The 16 covered bridges in Kings County, New Brunswick:
Bayswater (Milkish Inlet No. 1)
Built in 1920. 2 spans at 31.4m (103')
On Rte. 845, across Milkish Inlet. Turn right off Hardings Point Road at the Westfield ferry.
Bloomfield Creek
Built in 1917. Length 44.5m (146')
Follow Route 121 to Bloomfield, at junction with Route 855. Follow nearby Bloomfield Station Road
to bridge.
Centreville (Millstream River No. 5)
Built in 1911. Length 28.9m (95')
(3.8 metre tall clearance, 15-ton capacity)
Follow Rte. 10 to Berwick. Turn on to Rte. 880 and follow to Pleasant Ridge Branch Road on your
left. Bridge visible at Rte. 880/branch road junction.
Darlings Island Nauwigewauk (Not in service)
Built in 1914. Length 41.7m (137')
Take Exit 142 from Hwy 1 onto Route 100. Follow to Station Loop Road then turn onto
Darlings Island Road. Follow for approximately two miles, until you see the bridge on your left.
French Village (Hammond River No. 2)
Built in 1912. Length 55.2m (181')
From Route 100, turn on to Rte. 860. Follow Rte. 860 (Lakeside Road) 3 km past Hwy 1 overpass before
turning right on to Smith Road. Follow to bridge.
MacFarlane (Wards Creek No. 2) Wards Creek
Built in 1909. Length 17.7m (58') (one of two shortest covered bridges in county)
From Sussex Corner, follow Rte. 111 (New Line Road) to Upper Wards Creek. Turn right, follow blue
signs to covered bridge. After bridge, continue on to Church Avenue, Sussex.
Malone (Kennebecasis River No. 23) Upper Goshen
Built in 1911. Length 17.7m (58') (one of two shortest covered bridges
in county)
Take Rte. 1 to Exit 211 for Fundy Park. Follow Rte. 114 towards Fundy Park until you reach Goshen
Road on your left. Follow Goshen Road to bridge.
Marven (Belleisle Creek No. 2) Belleisle Creek
Built in 1903. Length 21.6m (71') (oldest covered bridge in Kings County)
On Swamp Road near Belleisle Creek. From Rte. 121, turn on to Rte. 855 to Springfield.
Turn east on to Rte. 870, and follow to Swamp Road on the right. Follow Swamp Road to bridge.
Moores Mill (Trout Creek No. 5) Waterford
Built in 1923. Length 17.8m (58' 6")
At Waterford, near Poley Mountain. From Rte. 111, turn on to Waterford Road, then on to Drummond
Road.
Moosehorn Creek No. 1.5 Norton (Not in service)
Built in 1915. Length 28.9m (94' 8")
On Rte. 1, near milage marker 170, at Norton
Oldfields (Smith Creek No. 5) Newtown
Built in 1910. Length 28m (92')
(3.7 metres max. clearance, 15-ton load capacity)
Follow Rte. 890 13 km from Exit 195 off Rte. 1 at Sussex. Oldfields cross road will be on your
right, with bridge visible from Rte. 890.
This is the second most known covered bridge in New Brunswick as it appeared on the 1992 New Brunswick quarter
issued to mark Canada's 125th anniversary.
Plumweseep (Kennebecasis River No. 9) Plumweseep
Built in 1911. Length 22.5m (74')
(4.2 metre tall clearance, 15-ton load capacity)
Follow Route 890 for 1 km from Exit 195 off Rte. 1 at Sussex. Turn right on to Plumweseep Road, follow
to the end. Turn right on to Plumweseep Cross Road and follow to bridge.
Salmon (Kennebecasis River No. 7.5) Sussex (Not in service)
Built in 1908. Length 34.2m (112' 2")
Follow Route 890 for 1 km from Exit 195 off Rte. 1 at Sussex. Bridge is on your left.
Smithtown (Hammond River No. 3)
Built in 1914. Length 55.7m (182' 9") (longest covered bridge in county)
On Damascus Road at Smithtown. From Route 100, turn on to Rte. 860. Follow Rte. 860 (Lakeside Road) approx.
5km past Hwy 1 overpass before turning right on to Damascus Road. Follow to bridge.
Tranton (Smith Creek No. 1) Roachville
Built in 1927. Length 36.7m (120' 6") (youngest covered bridge in Kings
County)
(4.2 metre tall clearance, 15-ton load capacity)
Follow Route 890 for 2 km from Exit 195 off Rte. 1 at Sussex. Turn left on to Roachville Road,
and follow 1 km to bridge.
Urney (Trout Creek No. 4) Waterford
Built in 1905. Length 20.1m (66')
At Waterford, near Poley Mountain. Head 12 km east along Rte. 111 from flashing light in Sussex
Corner. Turn left on to Urney Road and follow to bridge.
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A little history
Covered bridges were covered for a very practical reason. The roofs
protect the floorboards and their supporting beams from the wetting and drying open bridges normally endure. An uncovered
bridge had a practical life span of 10 to 15 years, while a covered bridge could be expected to last more than 80 years!
Contrary to popular belief, the roofs were not meant to keep the snow off the
bridge. In the winter months, an employee was hired to coat the bridge floor with snow to allow sleighs to pass
through.
New Brunswick covered bridges are distinct from similar bridges in other parts
of North America for two reasons. The most visible is that the wallboards were left unpainted, resulting them in
turning the wood the popular soft gray they are today. Second, the openings are taller than most. As most bridges were
built in rural communities, regulations stated the bridges must allow a full wagonload of loose hay must be able to pass through
safely.
When community buildings were scarce, covered bridges were a popular place for neighbourhood
residents to meet.
People aren't the only ones to appreciate covered bridges. Horses dislike
crossing running water, being afraid something is waiting there to pounce on them. Combining this survival instinct with their
nervousness about wooden wagon wheels traveling on vibrating wood bridge spans, and many horses simply refused to cross an
open bridge. As a covered bridge resembles a barn, the familiar shape and the barrier between themselves and the water made
the horses feel safer while crossing.
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Find more information on these historic structures at these sites:
