Milo Academy Bridge

The Milo Academy Bridge is a covered bridge spanning the South Umpqua River in Days Creek that merges modern steel construction with a traditional wooden exterior. The structure includes four rectangular windows set into its gabled roof and sits on concrete supports at both riverbanks.

An original wooden bridge was built in 1920 and was later replaced in 1962 with a steel truss structure. Locals requested that the new bridge retain traditional wooden covering, so the modern frame was enclosed with a period-style exterior.

The bridge reflects how local communities valued preserving traditional character even when upgrading infrastructure. Today you can observe how the wooden exterior wraps around a modern structure beneath, showing this balance between old and new aesthetics.

This is a single-lane crossing, so oncoming traffic is possible when driving over it to reach Milo Adventist Academy. Pedestrians can walk across to view the structure, but remain alert to vehicles using the bridge for access to the school.

This bridge is unique as Oregon's only covered bridge where the wooden exterior serves a purely decorative purpose rather than providing structural support. The entire wooden shell was added to a completed steel structure simply to maintain visual continuity with local heritage.

Location: Douglas County

GPS coordinates: 42.93560,-123.03700

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:47