Hartland Covered Bridge: World’s Longest Covered Bridge (391m) — New Brunswick Historic Site

Hartland Covered Bridge: The World’s Longest Covered Bridge

The Hartland Covered Bridge in New Brunswick is the longest covered bridge in the world at 391 metres. Spanning the Saint John River between Hartland and Somerville, this iconic structure has been a National Historic Site of Canada since 1980 and is one of the most photographed landmarks in Atlantic Canada.

Bridge Facts

Why Cover a Bridge?

The question visitors always ask: why put a roof on a bridge? The answer is entirely practical. Covered bridges were not built for aesthetics — they were built to protect the wooden deck and structural timbers from rain, snow, and ice. An uncovered wooden bridge might last 10-15 years before the deck rotted. A covered bridge, with its roof shielding the critical load-bearing elements from weather, could last 80 years or more. The Hartland bridge has now stood for over 120 years, proving the concept decisively.

History & Survival

The bridge was originally built in 1901 as an uncovered structure for horse and buggy traffic. The wooden roof was added in 1921 after ice damage threatened the timbers. Over the decades, the bridge has survived:

• Multiple major floods on the Saint John River, including the devastating 1987 spring flood
• Heavy ice jams that regularly form on the river each spring
• Increasing traffic loads as vehicles replaced horse-drawn carriages
• Ongoing structural repairs and reinforcement programs

Crossing the Bridge Today

The bridge remains open to vehicle traffic — it is not just a museum piece. With only one lane, traffic lights at each end alternate the direction of flow. Driving through the dimly lit, wooden-walled interior at a slow crawl is a step back in time. The journey takes about a minute, and tradition holds that you should make a wish while crossing (some say hold your breath, but at 391 metres, that is a challenge).

A New Brunswick Icon

The Hartland Covered Bridge appears on New Brunswick tourism materials, stamps, and postcards. It is a required stop on any road trip through the Saint John River Valley. The small town of Hartland has embraced its famous bridge with a visitor information centre, walking paths along the riverbank, and views of the bridge from multiple vantage points. New Brunswick once had over 400 covered bridges — about 60 still stand, but Hartland is the undisputed crown jewel.