Herkimer County

Salisbury Center Covered Bridge - NY 32-22-01 -- Peter Usselmann, Chairman of the Planning Board reports that the repair work is well underway and visitors to the bridge during the month of June found the deck completely gone. The new roof is finished and most of the masonry work on the abutments is completed. Four glulam bottom chords were delivered on June 21st and were put in place that week. Two channel irons will be installed on the bottom sides of the bridge to help remove the sag. One corner is in extremely poor condition and the channel irons will help to reinforce all four corners where the bridge rests. (Note: The roof and walls of this bridge actually rest beside the deck and are completely independent of the deck itself.)

Lewis County

Rether Covered Bridge - NY 32-25-01 - Lewis County has a new (2002) authentic Kingpost Covered Bridge to add to NY's list of authentic covered bridges. See complete story and photos on this bridge in another part of this website.

Rensselaer/Washington Counties

Buskirk Covered Bridge - NY 32-42-02/58-04 - Willie Grimmke, Superintendent of Public Works reports the following: The bridge is under construction and 'uncovered' at the moment. Shoring is going into the river to support the bridge as the truss work is being done. We still seem to be on schedule for the end of the year.

The project was recently featured in an article in the local Post Star newspaper. It explained that the rehab project was a compromise between historic preservation and transportation. Meaning that the transportation function had to compromise with the rehabbed bridge having restricted weight limits and restricted clearances, while historic preservation had to compromise with some modern materials (glulam bottom chords) in order to support emergency vehicles.

The prospect of another crossing in the area to divert heavier traffic off the covered bridge was also discussed. It is our hope to have a rehabilitated covered bridge for future generations to use and enjoy, as well as a modern crossing that will serve commerce and take heavy loads off the covered bridge. We are also working on getting the bid package ready for Eagleville, though funding remains an issue.

Other News: Congratulations to Bill and Linda Cockrell of Salem, Oregon on the birth of their new grandchildren. Yes, grandchildren . . .triplets to be exact! Kaysha Marie weighed in at 4 lbs 2 ounces and was 17 inches long, Emily Rose weighed in at 4 lbs 11 ounces and was 17 inches long, and lastly, Jordan Adam weighed in at 3 lbs and 7 ounces and was 16 1/2 inches long. The babies were born in Seattle but have recently been transferred to Bellingham, Oregon. Proud parents are Rose and Stefan Cockrell. Bill is the Editor of The Bridge Tender newsletter for the Oregon Covered Bridge Society. Congratulations to the entire Cockrell family.