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Switzer, Franklin County

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Inventory Number: KY/17-37-01x
County: Franklin County
Township:
Town/Village: Switzer
Bridge Name: Switzer
Crosses: North Fork Elkhorn Creek
Truss type: Howe
Spans: 1
Length: 120'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1855
Builder: George Hockensmith
When Lost: 03 Mar 1997
Cause: Flood
Latitude: N38 15.22
Longitude: W084 45.15
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: 4.1 miles east of jct US60 on US460, then 3.6 miles left on east side of bypassed section of KY1262.

Switzer Bridge, Switzer, Franklin County, KY Built 1855 Flood 3 Mar 1997
Richard Sanders Allen Collection, NSPCB Archives

Switzer Bridge, Switzer, Franklin County, KY Built 1855 Flood 3 Mar 1997
Bill Eichelberger Photo, January 1987

Switzer Bridge, Switzer, Franklin County, KY Built 1855 Flood 3 Mar 1997
Traugott Keller Photograph, July 4, 1953, NSPCB Archives

Comments:
Switzer Bridge over North Fork Elkhorn Creek was originally built in 1855. Each entrance of this bridge had a sawtooth edge. It was restored by Louis Bower in 1906 and was closed to traffic in 1954. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It had vertical siding. The bridge restored by Wood & Wood Builders 1991 - 1992. It was severely damaged by floodwaters on March 3, 1997. The bridge was rebuilt in 1998 by INTECH Engineering. 14-panel truss.

Sources:
White, Vernon. Covered Bridges, Focus on Kentucky, 1985, pages 71-75
National Society For the Preservation of Covered Bridges. Covered Bridge Topics, Volume VI, No. 1, March 1948, page 10
Database of Kentucky covered bridges compiled by Robert W. M. Laughlin
Laughlin, Robert W. M. and Melissa C. Jurgensen. Covered Bridges of Kentucky, 2007, pages 77 & 78

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