Wimer Bridge

{{short description|Covered bridge in Oregon, US}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Wimer Bridge

| nrhp_type =

| image =Wimer Covered Bridge.jpg

| caption = The 2008 version of the bridge

| image_size = 250

| alt =

| coordinates = {{coord|42|32|17.3|N|123|08|59.3|W|region:US_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = Oregon#USA

|map_caption=Location of the bridge in Jackson County

| nearest_city=

| built = 1927 (1892) (2008)

| builder = Hartman Brothers of Jacksonville (1927 version)

| architecture = Queenpost truss (1927 version)

| sigdate1_label = Listed

| sigdate1 = November 29, 1979

| delisted= after bridge collapse in 2003

| area =

| governing_body =

| mpsub =

| refnum =79002075{{cite web | title=Oregon National Register List | date=November 10, 2005| url= http://www.occma.org/portals/64/Departments/Community%20Development/oregon_nr_list.pdf|page=16|publisher=Oregon City County Management Association|accessdate=February 17, 2016}}

}}

The Wimer Bridge is a covered bridge over Evans Creek in Jackson County in the U.S. state of Oregon.{{cite web|title=Evans Creek (Wimer) Covered Bridge|url=http://www.oregon.gov/odot/hwy/bridge/docs/covbrdg/Descriptions/Wimer.pdf|publisher=Oregon Department of Transportation|accessdate=February 17, 2016}} The version that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1927. This structure, {{convert|85|ft|m}} long, carried East Evans Creek County Road over the creek in the rural community of Wimer.{{cite book|author1=Smith, Dwight A.|author2=Norman, James B. | author-link2=James B. Norman | author3=Dykman, Pieter T.|title=Historic Highway Bridges of Oregon|publisher=Oregon Historical Society Press|location=Portland|edition=2nd|year=1989|orig-year=1986|page=180|isbn=0-87595-205-4}} The creek is a tributary of the Rogue River, which it joins at the small city of Rogue River.{{cite web|title=United States Topographic Map|publisher=United States Geological Survey|via=Acme Mapper|url=http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=42.538139,-123.149806&z=15&t=T&marker0=42.538139,-123.149806|accessdate=February 17, 2016}}

An earlier covered span, built in 1892 by J. W. Osbourne, crossed the creek at this location, according to local residents and an engineering database. The 1927 bridge replaced the older span.

After the 1927 bridge deteriorated, local residents refurbished it in 1962. However, by the mid-1970s the bridge was closed after further decline. Repairs in 1985 led to reopening with an eight-ton limit, later reduced to three tons. Before further repairs were undertaken, the structure collapsed in 2003. It fell {{convert|40|ft|m}} into the water, injuring three people who were crossing the bridge.{{cite news|last=Mann|first=Damien|title=Wimer Bridge Lives!|newspaper=Medford Mail-Tribune|url=http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20080103/NEWS/801030337|date=January 3, 2008|publisher=Local Media Group|accessdate=February 17, 2016}}

In 2008, with the help of federal funds and local labor, the bridge was replaced with a look-alike using trusses reinforced with metal braces, laminated beams that look like timber, concrete approaches, and industrial roofing made to resemble wooden shakes. The one-way bridge, still {{convert|17|ft|m}} wide, as was the original, has a load limit of 10 tons. This version of the bridge opened to traffic in February 2008.{{cite web|title=International Database for Civil and Structural Engineering: Wimer Bridge|url=http://structurae.net/structures/wimer-bridge|publisher=Structurae|accessdate=February 17, 2016}}