Two Kent County covered bridges and a rebuilt neighbor

Kent County has two surviving covered-bridge landmarks. The Fallasburg Bridge crosses the Flat River north of Lowell, and the Ada Covered Bridge crosses the Thornapple River in Ada. A third stop, the rebuilt White’s Bridge near Smyrna, sits just across the county line in Ionia County.

Fallasburg was built in 1871 from pine timbers using a Brown truss. It remains open to vehicle traffic, and signs at its portals warn of a five-dollar fine for traveling faster than a walk. The bridge leads into the preserved Fallasburg Village historic district.

Ada’s bridge dates to 1867 and is now open only to people walking. Heavy snow collapsed its roof in 1979, and fire later destroyed the reconstructed bridge before the community rebuilt it again. It connects Ada’s village area with a public park.

White’s Bridge was originally built in 1869 across the Flat River. Arson destroyed it in 2013. A close replica, designed to preserve the original appearance while carrying modern loads, opened to traffic in 2020. Together, the three crossings make a practical West Michigan bridge route without blurring the Kent-Ionia county line.