The advantage of the Town lattice design is that it can be used to support spans well over a hundred feet in length. Due to its versatility, the Town lattice truss became the most popular covered bridge design in Georgia. The wooden members of the bridge were often cut off-site, including boring of the holes for trunnels, and assembled in place. Other elements of covered bridge design include piers that support the bridge over the stream bed. Large wooden heel plates installed longitudinally under the chords distribute the downward load of the trusses as they cross the sole plates , lateral members that rest on the tops of the piers.
Abutments provide support to the bridge at the stream bank and sometimes act as retaining walls.
Longitudinal treads are often installed over the decking to provide a smooth surface for the wheels of vehicles. Chin braces provide lateral support and are typically located over the piers at each end of the bridge, where unfortunately, they are susceptible to damage by vehicles. The bridge entrances, or portals ,sometimes project outward over the approaches to provide additional protection of the interior of the bridge from the elements.