The largest covered bridge in the United States was recently opened for traffic, just in time for the Ashtabula Covered Bridge Festival. Taking two years to build, the bridge is wide enough (51 feet) for side-by-side tractor-trailers. At 613 feet in length, the new bridge, christened the Smolen-Gulf Bridge, has displaced the Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge as the longest in the country.
     The bridge builders used modern glue laminated southern yellow pine beams for the modified Pratt truss system, and added pedestrian walkways on each side. A spiral staircase and elevator provide easy access to the walkways and views of the Ashtabula River Valley. The bridge sets 93 feet above the river and adds another drivable covered bridge to Ashtabula's count of 16.