Most covered bridges are what they are: a vintage way to cross a river or creek, either on foot or by vehicle.
east of Springfield is different. It's a bona fide tourist attraction, with restrooms that serve a busy highway (Oregon 58), a peaceful spot to enjoy Dexter Reservoir and historical panels that tell the history of the bridge.
The Western Federal Lands Highway Division, Lane County, Oregon Department of Transportation and U.S. Forest Service partnered to fund the $1.2 million bridge interprtive center and park.
To find the bridge, leave Interstate 5 at Oregon 58 south of Eugene. Drive east to Lowell. The bridge is just off Oregon 58 to the north.
It was built in 1945 and covered two years later. It was raised in 1953 in anticipation of Dexter Dam being built across the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. The bridge was bypassed in 1981 with the construction of a nearby roadway.
Here are links to find more of Oregon's covered bridges, plus a U.S. list:
From the Linn County Roads Department,
A guide to covered bridges in Lane County,
A guide to covered bridges in southern Oregon,
Covered bridges of Douglas County,
Covered bridges of the United States,
An Oregon Department of Transportation guide to covered bridges in Oregon,