Shimanek Bridge is a 105-foot Howe truss covered bridge spanning Thomas Creek on Richardson Gap Road near Scio in Linn County, Oregon. Built in 1966, it is the newest of the three covered bridges crossing Thomas Creek — and is immediately distinguished by its striking red-orange paint, unusual among Oregon covered bridges that are typically finished in white or natural wood.
The current structure replaced an earlier covered bridge on the same site built in 1921, continuing more than a century of covered bridge service at this Thomas Creek crossing. Despite its relatively recent construction date, the bridge preserves the traditional Howe truss form and timber construction methods that define the region's historic covered bridge heritage.
The original Shimanek Bridge was built in 1921, making it one of the earlier covered bridges on Thomas Creek. After more than four decades of service, the structure was replaced in 1966 with the current bridge — built to the same Howe truss design but with improvements to span length, roadway width, and load capacity.
The bridge is named for the Shimanek family, early settlers of the Thomas Creek valley whose name has been associated with this crossing for over a century. The three Thomas Creek covered bridges — Shimanek, Hannah, and Gilkey — represent three distinct construction periods spanning 1936 to 1966, each reflecting the standards and capabilities of its era.
The distinctive red-orange paint applied to the current bridge is thought to have been a practical choice that both distinguishes it visually and provides good weathering protection. The Thomas Creek corridor, with its three surviving covered bridges in close proximity, draws visitors from across the state and has become one of the most popular covered bridge touring routes in the Willamette Valley.