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Back to News NotesMilby Bridge Closed
Milby, Quebec, Nov. 27, 2003 - The Town of Waterville has closed the Milby covered bridge to motorized traffic as advised by the Quebec Ministry of Transport after an inspection found supporting beams under the bridge are stressed.The Town is seeking a grant from the Ministry of Culture to fund repairs.
The Milby covered bridge, WGN 61-67-03, stands near Route 147 between Huntingville and Compton.
According to the World Guide To Covered Bridges, the 78-foot bridge crosses the Moe River using the Town Truss. The bridge was built in 1873.
[Forwarded by Gerald Arbour from Townships Heritage WebMagazine (URL undisclosed)]
Gould Covered Bridge to Be Restored
Gould, Quebec, Nov. 24, 2003 - The Town of Lingwick will accept a $54,000 subsidy from the Quebec Ministry of Culture to augment its own $150,000 fund to begin restoration work on the Gould covered bridge [WGN 61-18-08].The work, planned to take four years, will begin with the central pier of the two-span bridge.
Also known as the McVetty-McKerry bridge, and the Fisher Hill bridge, it spans the Riviere au Saumon. The 206-foot structure was built in 1893 using the Town Truss.
[Forwarded by Gerald Arbour from Townships Heritage WebMagazine (URL undisclosed)]
Canyon Covered Bridge Slated for Rehab.
December 19, 2003 - The Canyon, or Gristmill Bridge [WGN 45-08-01] rehabilitation
project will be open for bids on January 9, 2004.
Jay Bridge Rehab Contract Awarded
Elizabethtown, N.Y., Nov. 21, 2003 - The Jay Covered Bridge rehabilitation
contract was awarded to Alpine Construction, of Stillwater, N.Y., with a bid of $652,184.
Competing bidders were 3-G Construction,
Holderhill, NH at $894,900, and H. Schickel General Contracting, Malone at $944,706
While the bids were opened early in October the
Essex County Department of Public Works delayed awarding the contract because Alpine's bid
was significantly lower than the next lowest bid. The Department checked the bid to be sure all
job costs were accounted for. The Department's own estimate was in the neighborhood of the 3-G
Construction bid. All bidders were checked as to whether they were qualified to do historic
preservation and restoration work on covered bridges.
The rehabilitation work will replace the bridge floor,
80 percent of the lower support members, and half of the upper members. The bridge will be
reopened to pedestrian and cycle traffic only.
Actual rehabilitation work on the bridge will begin in
April, 2004, slated for completion by the end of the year. The restored covered bridge, currently
on the river bank, will be returned to its place over the river after a planned new highway bridge is
built 400 feet down-river from the covered bridge site. Bids for construction of the new bridge
will be opened in July.
The 175-foot Jay Covered Bridge, WGN 32-16-01,
was built in 1857 to cross the East Branch of the Ausable River using the Howe Truss. The New
York State Department of Transportation began studying the bridge for safety in 1983, and in
1997 the bridge was removed as unsafe. A temporary one-lane steel bridge is currently carrying
the old bridge's traffic.
[Thanks to Dick Wilson for forwarding the news stories upon which this article is based -
Ed.]
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The Beausejour Bridge Taken Down
Work on Buskirk Bridge Begun [WGN 32-42-02] Wind-toppled tree smashes roof of Forks Twin Span
[WGN 38-19-10, 11] Madison County Arson On the front page of the Wall Street Journal (11/18/03) there is an article about the efforts of
the Madison County Sheriff to catch the arsonist burning covered bridges in Madison County.
Among other things, he looked up all marriages that took place at any covered bridge and then
cross referenced these against divorces. He then interviewed all of the separated couples. So far,
he has not found the guilty party(parties). The Comstock Bridge Opens [WGN 45-06-04] The Comstock Bridge opened last week. There was no ceremony or other fanfare but it sure
is good to have it back. Thanks for keeping them and us honest. Hogback Bridge Fired Iowa's Delta Covered Bridge Arsoned [The 76-foot Delta covered bridge was built in 1869 using a Burr truss to cross the North Skunk River at Delta, Ia. - Ed.] |
North Carolina's Pisgah Bridge Lost to Flood
[WGN 33-78-01]
August 9 - The Pisgah Covered Bridge in Randolph County, North Carolina was washed
away in a flash flood on Saturday night, August 9th.The area received between five and seven
inches of rain. The bridge had survived hurricanes in the past but this storm was just too much to
handle. Sadly the bridge was just restored four years ago.
The news of the loss was shared with the covered
bridge community by Miriam Wood of the Ohio Historic Bridge Association. Quoted from the
WeatherBug, ". . . a raging creek overtook a campground in Asheboro in central North
Carolina on Sunday and a woman and her son there were narrowly rescued. The flooding in
Asheboro also destroyed one of only two remaining covered bridges in the state of North
Carolina."
The World Guide to Covered Bridges, 1989 edition,
lists the Pisgah as a 51-foot stringer bridge built c1910.
[Thanks to Tom Walczak, James Crouse, Miriam Wood, and Gerald Arbour, all of whom passed
on the news via email - Ed.]
New Tourist Info Center Opens
12 Aug 2003 - A brand new dedicated Tourist Information Center. Located on Trans-
Canada Highway, exit 365, Coles Island.
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Photo by R. Joyce, 2003 |
Photo by R. Joyce, 2003 |
[Thanks to Gerald Arbour for forwarding this item - Ed.]
Work Begins on Pittsford's Cooley Bridge
[WGN 45-11-07]
Dan Brock writes: "Joe, when I was at the Gorham Bridge last week I saw a sign that said road
closed ahead bridge closed. I drove up there and the Cooley Bridge is under construction. The
flooring is gone, and the trusses are being held up by I-beams. It was a Sunday and nobody was
around to ask what work they are doing. Do you know any more on this?"
Dan: I knew they were going to work on it, didn't know start date. I was invited to sit in on the VAOT Historic Bridge Committee meeting called to examine the work proposal last year. To see the details on the work to be done go to the index page on this website and click on Covered Bridge Preservation. There, in the left-hand column are the bridge committee meeting minutes. Click that and you will find a list of the bridges up for repairs, including the Cooley. Thanks for the heads-up. I'll have to visit the site with my camera. - Joe Nelson
Buskirk Bridge Refurbishing Plans Near Completion
[WGN 32-42-02/58-04]
July 2, 2003 - The contract for work on the bridges will soon go out to bid, said
James Prendergast, member of the Washington County Covered Bridge Advisory
Committee.
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Photo by Dick Wilson August 14, 2002 |
New York's Buskirk Bridge Closed
The contract will include a temporary one-lane
bridge to carry traffic until completion of the work on the covered bridge. Construction of the
temporary bridge is opposed by Prendergast and others who fear it would slow construction on
the covered bridge and add to the cost to save "a couple of minutes" of travel time.
Over $3 million has been set aside to refurbish the
Buskirk, Eagleville, and Rexleigh covered bridges. The funds were made available under the
National Covered Bridge Preservation Program enacted in 2001.
the Buskirk Covered Bridge was closed to traffic on
August 14, 2002 when a severe structural defect was discovered in one of the beams that
supports the bridge during a routine annual inspection of the bridge. Washington County
engineers decided to close the bridge until repairs could be made.
The 164-foot bridge was built in 1880 using the
Howe truss. The bridge spans the Hoosic River serving County Road 103, connecting Rensselaer
and Washington Counties.
The bridge was nearly lost in the 1970s when a flood
lifted it off its abutments. In the 1990s work was done on the bridge floor installing the planking
transversely as was done in the days of the horse and wagon. The refurbishing will include re-
flooring the bridge, laying the planking in the direction of traffic flow.
[Thanks to Dick Wilson for forwarding the clipping from the July 2 Rensselaer Times Union -
Ed.]
Copeland Bridge Gets Grant
[WGN 32-46-01]
Edinburg, NY, June 24, 2003 - New York's Department of Transportation granted
the Town of Edinburg $28,000 to "enhance" the tourism potential of the historic Copeland
Covered Bridge.
The funds, coming from DOTs Transportation and
Community and System Preservation Pilot Program, are to be used for landscaping, benches and
interpretive signs. Work should be completed by 2004
The Copeland Bridge crosses Beecher Creek near
Sacandaga Lake in Saratoga County. The 35-foot bridge was built in 1879 by Arad Copeland
using a queenpost truss.
Part of the Copeland farm, it was deeded to the
Edinburg Historical Society in 1997. The Historical Society and the town restored the bridge
structure during the winter of 2000 and 2001 using $75,000 in federal money.
The bridge was put on the National Register of
Historic sites in 1998.
For photos and story of the restoration go to
The Copeland Covered Bridge Renovation
Keller/Rettews Mill Bridge [38-36-13] to be Moved
Ephrata, Township, PA, June 7, 2003 - The plan to move the Keller/Rettews Mill
Bridge, first proposed in 1994, is now moving ahead.
The bridge is to be moved to a nearby location and
replaced with a concrete and steel bridge. The reason for the move is to improve traffic flow in
Ephrata Township and to preserve one of the county's historic covered bridges.
The holdup since early 1994 has beenpaperwork.
Because the Keller's Mill Covered Bridge (sometimes called the Guy Bard bridge or Cocalico
No. 5 bridge) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and because the replacement
bridge planned by Ephrata Township will be built with federal funds, the project requires multiple
reviews and clearances.
The Federal Highway Administration has agreed to
payy 80 percent of the estimated $1.1 million cost of a new bridge. State Transportation officials
will pay another 15 percent while the township will pay the remaining 5 percent.
The county would pay about $300,000 to relocate-the
covered bridge, acording to the assistant county engineer.
County officials believe the move is the best way to
preserve the historic 1891 wooden bridge.
It was estimated that at least 3,000 vehicles daily
cross the Rettew Mill Road bridge, which is used as a western bypass of Ephrata.
To move the bridge, the county will build a
supporting structure underneath. Then the bridge will be disassembled. Major parts will be
numbered, labeled and reused. The shingles and planking will be discarded. The covered bridge
will remain in use until after the new bridge is constructed by the township upstream.. No date
was given for the move.
The 77-foot Keller/Rettews Mill Bridge crosses
Cocalico Creek. It was built in 1891 using the Burr truss.
[Our thanks to Bonnie Shultz who forwarded the clipping from the New Era, of
Lancaster, Pa. on which this report is based - Ed.]
Oregon's Wimer Bridge Down
from newspaper reports
Jackson County, OR, July 6, 2003 - The covered bridge near Wemer, Oregon fell into
Evens Creek shortly after a car crossed. Also crossing at the time were a grandfather and his two
grandchildren.
Rescued from the wreckage of the bridge by people
from the neighborhood, the three were taken to local hospitals by the Evans Valley Fire
Department.
The 85-foot Wimer Bridge was built in 1927 using the
queen post truss. The bridge replaced another covered bridge built in 1892. The second bridge
was condemned as unsafe in 1956, repaired in 1962 and reopened to traffic. It has been repaired
in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, and slated for overhaul in 2002. Preliminary work was done by Jackson
County.
The bridge was to have been renovated
in 2005, funded by a grant from the Federal Highway Administration's Historic Covered Bridge
Preservation Program The award, $528,480, was to have covered 80 percent of the project.
The Wimer Bridge was listed on the National Register
for Historic Places in 1979. One of four covered bridges in Jackson county, it was the only one
open to traffic. The posted load capacity was three tons.
For details of the incident go to the Mail Tribune, of
Medford, OR website:
[Our thanks to Bill Cockrell of Oregon, Trish Kane, James Crouse, and Tom Keating for bringing
the loss of the bridge to our attention - Ed]
Jackson's Mill Bridge Being Rebuilt, Wilson's Mill Bridge
Missing
June 12, 2003 - Hello: My wife is a covered bridge fan. However, she does not want to
join any clubs. But I often visit your Vermont Covered Bridge website for news. So I thought
that I would pass on some news.
My wife and I were in southwestern Pennsylvania this
past weekend. Jackson's Mill Bridge in Washington County [PA-63-18] (#18 on Washington
County CB guide) is being rebuilt. We were there on Monday, June 9. It looked like the whole
bridge was being replaced. There was a new deck, but no roof or sides.
Also, Wilson's Mill Bridge [PA-63-28] is not there
anymore (#14 on guide). There was a one-lane concrete/steel bridge there. The rest of
Washington County's 21 bridges were intact and in good condition..
Tom Keating
June 13, 2003 - Mr. Keating: Thank you for your information. I am forwarding your
message to our email list.
If anyone out there has further info about these
bridges, story and photos will be published on the website with credits.
Joe Nelson
June 13, 2003 - Joe, I can tell you about the Wilson's Mill Bridge. In October 2002
an the bridge was set on fire. The fire was put out, but the bridge was damaged. 2 weeks later
another arson attempt was made on the bridge. That's when it was decided to mark the timbers
and remove the bridge and put it in storage to be reconstructed at another time.
I took pictures of the Jackson Mill bridge in 1997 but
I can not tell you about the status of this one. here are pictures I took of both bridges in
1997.
Dick Wilson
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Photo by Dick Wilson, 1997 |
Photo by Dick Wilson, 1997 |
Fire Damages Wilson Mill Bridge Again
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Photo by Dick Wilson, 1997 |
For the second time in two weeks, emergency personnel responded to a blaze at the bridge. Washington County 911 said a passing motorist called from a cell phone at 6:36 a.m. to report the flames. The county plans to reconstruct the bridge in early spring and will be applying for state funds because the bridge is a historic structure.
[This article forwarded by J. Soroka and R. Wilson, news source undisclosed - Ed.]
Perreault Bridge Repairs Underway
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Photo by Jimmy Veilleux, May 2003 |
June 2, 2003 Beauce County, Quebec - The Perreault Bridge is undergoing extensive repairs. Bypassed in the 70's, the bridge was closed to pedestrians a few years ago. Work started May the 5th, to be completed in July, an up to $700,000 project. When the work is completed, the bridge will be illuminated and the rest area will be upgraded.
The Perreault Bridge, WGN 61-06-01, was built in 1928 using a Town truss variant. It is 495 feet long in four spans over the Chaudiere River near Notre Dame-des-pins.
[Our thanks to Gerald Arbour, who submitted this article and photo - Ed.]
The Bennington Bridge Trilogy #4 On Display
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by Dorrel Harrison |
The Bennington Bridge Trilogy #4 created by Covered Bridge Model builder Dorrel Harrison will be on open public display at the Merchants Bank in Bennington from May 27-June 6. It will then be displayed at the Bank of Bennington from June 9 to June 12. He will be presenting the work to the Covered Bridge Museum at a later time; perhaps June 13.
The Bennington Bridge Trilogy #4 highlights the three plank-lattice truss covered bridges in Bennington, Vermont, along with Mt. Anthony and of course the Walloomsac River. The three bridges are one of many of Bennington's attractions which visitors will often photograph and experience by a "drive through". The hand-crafted piece of three dimensional art is made primarily of barn board and took nearly eighty hours to complete. The art work will be donated to the Covered Bridge Museum and will be on permanent display to visitors of that museum.
The hand-crafted artist is currently in the process of relocating to Southern Indiana where he will continue to make Vermont covered bridge wall decor and ornaments.
VERMONT COVERED BRIDGES
P.O. Box 422 N. Bennington, Vt. 05257-0422
518-686-5933 E-mail: dorrelh@cserv.net
vtcoveredbridges.hypermart.net/bridgemain.htm
Text and photo provided by Dorrel Harrison
Joe Nelson, P.O Box 267, Jericho, VT 05465-0267
This file revised February 10, 2005