Hartland Covered Bridge

Hartland Covered Bridge
Hartland Covered Bridge, from the Somerville side looking back toward Hartland.
Coordinates	46°17′48″N 67°31′49″W / 46.29667°N 67.53028°W / 46.29667; -67.53028
Carries	Hartland Hill Bridge Road
Crosses	Saint John River
Locale	Hartland-Somerville, New Brunswick, Canada
Characteristics
Design	Howe truss covered bridge[1]
Material	Concrete (piers) wood (truss)[1]
Total length	1,282 feet (391 m)
No. of spans	7
Piers in water	5
Load limit	10 tonnes (regularly) 3 tonnes (since December 2023)
History
Construction start	December 1899 (1899-12)
Construction end	June 1901 (1901-06)
Construction cost	$33,000
Opened	May 14, 1901 (1901-05-14)
Inaugurated	July 4, 1901 (1901-07-04)
Replaces	Hartland ferry, Ice bridge
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name	Hartland Covered Bridge National Historic Site of Canada
Designated	November 17, 1977 (1977-11-17)
New Brunswick Heritage Conservation Act
Type	Provincial Heritage Place
Designated	September 15, 1999 (1999-09-15)
Location

The Hartland Covered Bridge (French: Pont couvert de Hartland), otherwise known simply as the Hartland Bridge, is the world's longest covered bridge, measuring approximately 1,282 feet (391 m) long. Located in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, the bridge crosses the Saint John River from Hartland to Somerville, both located in Carleton County. The framework consists of seven small Howe Truss bridges joined on six piers.^[2] The bridge was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1977, as well as a Provincial Heritage Place in New Brunswick under the Heritage Conservation Act in 1999.

Construction on the Hartland Covered Bridge began in late 1899 following initial planning that began the previous year, though the topic of constructing a bridge in Hartland had been discussed as a political issue years earlier. The bridge was opened in 1901 and initially was a contrast to what it is today; it was used as a toll bridge until being purchased by the provincial government in 1906, and the bridge had not been covered until 1922 after it was rebuilt following weather-caused structural damage in early 1920.

The Hartland Covered Bridge continues to be used primarily as a tourist attraction, featuring only one lane as well as load and height limits which restrict heavier vehicles from crossing.