Ada Covered Bridge

Spans: Thornapple River
Built: 1867, 1979

Ada Bridge (a.k.a. Bradfield Bridge) Today's Ada Covered Bridge spans the Thornapple River at the town's public park. Originally, legislation enacted in 1867 authorized Ada Township to borrow up to $3000 to build or repair bridges in the area, which is laced with rivers and streams.

Ada Bridge was built during that time, apparently by William Holmes. The design for the original "Brown" trusses used to build Ada Bridge was patented by Josiah Brown of Buffalo, New York in 1857. A timber bearing his name was uncovered during repair work in 1913, when the trusses were modified. Ada Bridge has been threatened by floods a number of times over the years. It is said that farmers used to drive wagons loaded with stones onto the bridge during high water to hold it to the foundation. The bridge was closed to automobile traffic in 1930 and restored by the Kent County Road Commission in 1941. It purchased a barn near the site and used its siding and roofing to replace the badly deteriorated elements of the bridge. When heavy snows collapsed the roof in 1979, the people of Ada mounted an all-out effort to raise funds to restore the bridge. Shortly after the repairs were finished, the bridge was completely destroyed by fire.

Undaunted and with the help of Amway Corporation, which is headquartered in Ada, citizens again rallied to rebuild it. As it stands today, Ada Bridge is a testament to the pride and perseverance of the entire community. The present structure is a reconstructed wooden truss bridge measuring 14 feet wide and 125 feet long. Its gabled roof is covered with creosote shingles. The wooden pilings that originally supported the bridge have been replaced by concrete abutments. Open only to pedestrian traffic, the bridge connects the Village of Ada on one side of the Thornapple River with a park on the other side. It is maintained by the Kent County Park system.

The Ada Covered Bridge was listed with the Michigan State Register on May 9, 1969 and with the National Register on February 16, 1970. It was awarded a Michigan Historical Marker on August 28, 1974.

Directions: Follow I-96 east from Grand Rapids. Exit on M-21 east to Ada. Turn south on Ada Drive, then east on Bronson.

For more information, contact:
West Michigan Tourist Association
800-442-2084 or info@wmta.org

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