The Bayard Bridge is a crossing of the North Branch Potomac River between Grant County

Grant County, West Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,299 people, 4,591 households, and 3,273 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 6,105 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...

, West Virginia

West Virginia

West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...

 and Garrett County

Garrett County, Maryland

Garrett County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland. Created from Allegany County, Maryland in 1872 it was the last Maryland county to be formed. It was named for John Work Garrett , railroad executive, industrialist, and financier. Garrett served as president of the Baltimore...

, Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

. The bridge takes its name from the town of Bayard

Bayard, West Virginia

Bayard is a town in Grant County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 299 at the 2000 census. Bayard was incorporated in 1893 and named in honor of Thomas F. Bayard, Jr., who later became a United States Senator from Delaware . Bayard was founded on the West Virginia Central and...

 at its West Virginia end.

History

According to West Virginia Division of Highways records, Bayard Bridge was built prior to 1900. The through truss span became limited by its narrow 13 feet (4 m) width, the state decided to close this span along with ones at Dobbin

Dobbin, West Virginia

Dobbin is an unincorporated community on the North Branch Potomac River in Grant County, West Virginia, USA. Dobbin is located southwest of Bayard on West Virginia Route 90....

 and Henry

Henry, West Virginia

Henry is an unincorporated community on West Virginia Route 90 in northwestern Grant County, West Virginia, USA. Henry lies on Elk Creek shortly before its confluence with the North Branch Potomac River. It is famous for the Henry Bicentennial Chicken Herding Competition....

in 1988.

Replacement span

Since its closing, local citizens and businesses on both sides of the bridge have pushed for the construction of a replacement span at various times. As of 2008, there is a current campaign to acquire a new bridge.