A Bridge Over Troubled Water

Today I visited Watson Mill Bridge State Park located in Comer, Georgia. As I crossed the suspension bridge over the South Fork of the Broad River, I took note of its wooden planks and steel cables. The bridge is a wooden masterpiece made with riveting craftsmanship - the longest covered bridge in Georgia measuring 229 feet. After crossing, I explored the park's extensive hiking trails that crisscrossed through the undisturbed natural beauty. The Mill ruins, a centerpiece of the park, is an archaeological specimen of early twentieth-century engineering marvel. I discovered from the park ranger that the Historic Watson Mill covered bridge was built-in 1885, amongst the first iron bridge builders in Georgia. It’s an excellent example of a timbre portal design with truss members and counter braces in southern engineering style. I compared it with other iconic bridges across the United States, such as Golden Gate bridge, which has cables dropped over vertical suspenders that carry greater loads. The Watson Mill covered bridge is meant to blend in with the landscape not to draw attention to itself as a feat of engineering.