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 I first photographed the Ballard Road Covered Bridge
in 1993. The bridge was then in good shape. The day I photographed
was cloudy and I had wanted a blue sky for the image In early
March of 2001 I returned to photograph the bridge and found out
to my dismay that the State of Ohio had come into Greene County
and, declaring eminent domain, had built a bypass road for State
Route 35.
 Ballard Road bridge is now blocked at one end by the
new State Route 35 Bypass.The new road now covers part of Ballard
Road and getting there is a little more difficult.
I spoke with some area residents and they
do'nt like what this new road does. As a result of new construction
completed in 1999, State Route 35 Bypass now carries people directly
East to Washington Court House and to the factory outlet stores
at Interstate 71. Residents complain that because of an excess
of reckless driving, more accidents and deaths have occurred
on the new road than before the bypass was built.
 The Ballard Road covered Bridge was built in 1883
and is eighty feet long. The bridge has a Howe truss with floor
planking laid lengthwise. I has a tin roof with green multicolored
siding. Ballard Road bridge is a single span and rests on cut
stone abutments. It spans a North Branch of Ceasar Creek, which
drains into the south-central section of Greene County and feeds
the Ceasar Creek Reservoir, located eleven miles from the bridge.
Since I photographed this bridge in 1993, steel I-Beams have
been added for lower strength and support, but the rest of the
bridge needs repair.
 I spoke with Greene County Engineer Robert Geyer who
stated, "even though there are Federal monies available
to repair and restore this covered bridge, I have no interest
or time to fill out the necessary paper work and files that need
to be sent in to the federal government for these monies".
Mr. Geyer also said, "there is only one farm on that road
and I do not have time to waste on trying to save that bridge."*
Directions: New Jasper Township. From Xenia, east on SR 35, six
miles, right on Ballard Road, one mile.
*If you disagree with the
County Engineer's position on the need to preserve and restore
old covered bridges, especially when Federal funds are available,
please let him know by contacting his office: Robert Geyer; Greene
County Engineer; 615 Dayton-Xenia Road; Xenia, Ohio 45385, or
937-562-7500.
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