No. 8 Bridge: A Modern Take on Timeless Design
Rather than opting for a standard bridge design, the LongBridge Luxury Apartments covered bridge in Macron, Ga. brings timeless craftsmanship to modern infrastructure. Built from sustainably sourced timber, this structure blends durability with heritage-inspired aesthetics, creating a vital connection for a growing community while also preserving the natural character of the landscape.
Spanning 61 feet, the LongBridge Luxury Apartments Covered Bridge delivers essential connectivity for residents and emergency services and also stands as a striking architectural landmark. Its blend of functionality and visual appeal earned it the number eight spot on Roads & Bridges’ 2025 Top 10 Bridge Awards list.
The timber vehicular bridge’s HS-20 load rating allows it to serve modern traffic flows, ensuring stable access to a new housing development.
Despite the area seeing minimal traffic during construction, crews still operated with an effort to minimize environmental disruptions, operating with a Deck-Level Construction method. This practice allows crews to work directly from the deck and eliminates the use of heavy ground equipment while improving worker safety.
The method also supported reducing the environmental impact on the creek and soil directly below the bridge and damage to the surrounding ecosystem.
The project’s dedication to the environment extends to the materials used in its construction, as the bridge was built with sustainably harvested timber. The timber has protective coatings intended to extend the bridge’s lifecycle and reduce maintenance needs. Galvanized and stainless-steel components were used for the bridge’s internal supports, which were selected to ensure the resiliency and longevity of the bridge.
The design team elected to use a gable covered structure that mimics a traditional covered bridge while further protecting the structure. The gabled roof is outfitted with cupolas to expand the bridge’s visual impact.
The bridge is constructed with Southern Yellow Pine, which was pressure treated and coated with an antique white acrylic and butternut-stained accents. The crew also constructed a wear deck of tropical hardwood, with a matching composite pedestrian decking, adding to the project’s durability and beauty.
A particular challenge of the project was ensuring color application of the materials in a high-moisture environment, which required the coatings be completed in a short time window using a specific application technique.
Customization and precision in consideration of the site’s specific conditions was achieved through York Bridge Conept’s Decero Design studio. This process integrates computer-aided design (CAD) modules and the topographical information of the site to create a customized bridge design that fits in with the surrounding area.
The project was conducted across three phases: site prep and foundation work; superstructure and decking installation; and roof overing and aesthetic treatments. Each phase ran on a strict time schedule to ensure alignment to weather conditions and environmental sensitivity.
Construction of the bridge took less than three months beginning in October 2024 and was completed in January.
Project Name: LongBridge Luxury Apartments Covered Bridge
Location: Macon, Ga.
Owner: Longbridge Apartments
Designer/Contractor: York Bridge Concepts
Cost: Approximately $800,000
Length: 61 feet