The Elizabethton Covered Bridge is a 134ft covered bridge over the Doe River in Elizabethton, the county seat of Carter County, Tennessee.The Elizabethton Covered Bridge was constructed in 1882 and connects 3rd Street and Hattie Avenue.FeaturesStructurally, the Elizabethton Covered Bridge contains one span, a covered wooden Howe Truss (typically constructed of timber diagonals and iron verticals) that is 137ft long. The total length is 154.3ft. The covered bridge contains one traffic lane and a single walkway, while the curb-to-curb width is 16.4ft and the out-to-out width is 20.4ft. The bridge substructure is masonry, stone, and concrete. Each end of the bridge features a projecting truncated gabled roofline.While allowing for pedestrian and bicycle transit over the Doe River, the Elizabethton Covered Bridge is now closed to all motor vehicle traffic.History: "five dollar bridge"As the county seat, Elizabethton grew throughout the 19th century. However, Lynn Mountain hemmed it in to the east and the Watauga River lay to the north. The Doe River flooded often and limited growth to the south. To span westward, to the site of the current downtown, the city would need a bridge over the Doe River. After extensive debate, in 1882 the Carter County Court approved $3,000 for the bridge and $300 for approaches. The court appointed a committee to select a site for the bridge. However, the committee encountered an unexpected problem — the men could not find a qualified contractor to erect the bridge.