Office Covered Bridge - The Longest In Oregon!

The Office Covered Bridge, also known as Westfir Covered Bridge, sits in the small town of Westfir in Lane County. It spans the scenic North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River and carries Westfir-Oakridge Road over it.

The bridge marks the south entrance of the Aufderheide National Scenic Byway and lies at the gateway to the lush expanses of the Willamette National Forest.

Office Bridge is 180 feet (55 m), making it the longest covered bridge in Oregon.

This is one of only two bridges in the state using triple Howe truss construction. It is also the only covered bridge west of the Mississippi River with a separate pedestrian walkway.

After being closed to the public for many years, the bridge now offers a small park on its north side. It also serves as a trailhead to the North Fork Trail #3666 and provides access to the 'Wild and Scenic' section of the river.

The bridge is illuminated during the holiday season with a festive lights switch-on event led by Santa Claus driving a fire truck.

The Pengra Covered Bridge, built using 2 of the longest timbers in Oregon's covered bridge history, sits nearby.

History

Constructed in 1944, the Office Covered Bridge replaced the 1941 bridge that had been destroyed by flood. The Westfir Lumber Company built it to transport heavy logging equipment and timber across the river to the mill.

The bridge sat near the company offices, now a charming bed and breakfast, inspiring the name.

The town of Westfir, originally owned by the lumber company, and the bridge itself were sold to an investment firm in 1977. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

After the mill's destruction by fire in the early 1980s and a change of ownership due to tax foreclosure in 1992, Lane County took over the Office Bridge, ensuring its preservation.

Over the years, the bridge has undergone a series of repairs, including structural reinforcements in 1993 and roof replacements in 2002.