Bridgeport Covered Bridge Rehabilitation & Restoration
Submitted by John Field
The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Bridgeport 'Covered' Bridge
was completed as of
The Restoration and Rehabilitation of the Bridgeport 'Covered' Bridge
was completed as of
October 29, 2021.
The Bridgeport Covered Bridge is the Longest, Single Span, Covered, Wooden Bridge
in the World.
A red ribbon cutting reopening ceremony was held on November 4, 2021
* The new button below entitled “Bridge Reopening-Nov. 4, 2021”
, will lead you to photos
and videos submitted by various contributors of that momentous occasion. *
***
A red ribbon cutting re-opening ceremony was held on November 4, 2021.
* Keep checking back here for links that will lead you to photos and videos of that momentous occasion. *
A Special YouTube Recap condensing the 28-month long project into 44 minutes has been posted below by clicking on the photo of Master Bridgewright Tim Andrews seated on the bottom chords of the bridge while being restored. The special recap will remain indefinitely on this home page.
All 28 months of the installation process can be accessed by clicking on the Ongoing Progress Photos and Videos button below this text. There you can access Monthly Folders of the individual Photos and Videos posted each month, Monthly YouTube Recaps, and Monthly Progress Slide Shows.
It has been a rewarding and educational experience capturing and producing the media documentation effort over the course of the historic restoration and rehabilitation project. I would like to extend my special thanks and appreciation to the following contributors: Shirley and Doug Moon, Robert Coats, Herb Lindberg, Dave Arstein, John Thompson, Janet Peters, Steve Berry, Fred Claessens, Denise Jaffke, Marc Wetherbee, Will Truax, Michael Baca, John Rebenstorff and Tim Andrews.
Bridge Reopening-Nov. 4, 2021...
Ongoing Progress Photos/Videos...
Monthly Progress Slideshows...
YouTube Monthly Recap Videos...
To see complete documentation regarding the bridge restoration project, click the link below.
We Saved Our Park!
South Yuba River State Park
This show describes facilities and activities at the park, many of which would be lost if the park were closed even temporarily.
Also, it is a good place for new visitors to become familiar with the park's most important features and how they got there.
Save Our Park
Run Time 9:27 min
FOR LATEST INFORMATION ON THE BRIDGE PROJECT, CLICK THE BOX BELOW:
We can all take a minute to congratulate ourselves on this wonderful community wide effort to attain the funding necessary to begin restoration and to reopen this historic icon. We can savor how, working together, we accomplished this first major step to Save Our Bridge. Please see Campaign Updates column.
Bridge Stabilization Groundbreaking
Phase 1 Bridge Stabilization - September, 2014
Phase 1 - Stabilization Photos...
Preparation For Bridge Restoration - April, 2015
Phase2 - Restoration Photos...
We also need to recognize and thank a large number of people and organizations for their unwavering support during this stage of the campaign. Please forgive us if we miss anyone:
California State Park Foundation
South Yuba River Citizen´s League and especially Executive Director Caleb Dardick
Nevada County Board of Supervisors and especially District 4 Supervisor Hank Weston
Nevada City Council and especially Councilman Robert Bergman
Grass Valley City Council
Truckee Town Council
Bear Yuba Land Trust and especially Outreach Coordinator Laura Brown
All of the Nevada County and City Chambers of Commerce and especially our Chamber coordinator, Susan George
The Economic Resources Council
The Grass Valley Downtown Association
The Nevada County Historical Society
The Sierra Cinemas Theatres
Penn Valley Rodeo Association
SYRPA Web master Mike Baca
Sandy Alves for great graphics work
Carol Scofield – Our Speakers’ Bureau Consultant
…and so many more!
The New Campaign Slogan Is “Save Our Bridge – You Can Help”
With restoration funding in place, we need to make sure that the project is continued to be identified and treated as a priority for the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). The restoration work is scheduled to begin in the late Spring or early Summer of 2018.
Construction work can begin as soon as the river water level drops enough to be determined safe to work. This historic Bridge is in a weakened condition. There is real urgency to begin the restoration project as soon as is possible.
We, as a community, need to work closely with DPR to monitor the progress of the project and make sure the repairs and restoration work is completed in a timely manner.
What You Can Do
We need you to stay involved and informed. Let DPR know that you want this project to be completed as soon as is possible. Check this website frequently for updates, and respond to future “Action Alerts”, as we may need to communicate our positions on issues during the restoration process with State Representatives and DPR.
Donate to the Campaign – We still need funds to run the campaign. More importantly we are saving the bulk of donated funds to have the ability to contribute, at the end of the project, should there be any monetary shortfall to complete the restoration. All donated money will be used in the campaign or go directly to the Bridge.
CAMPAIGN UPDATES
Historic Covered Bridge Renovation and Malakoff Solar Projects Move Forward
Recently, the CBS and NBC Television Affiliates from Sacramento traveled out to Bridgeport to talk with Matt Green and Doug Moon about our beloved covered bridge and its eminent and full restoration scheduled for 2018...In case you didn't catch it on the news, the following two links will take you to the stories.
Repairing a piece of history...
Bridge gets $4 million restoration...
Governor Signs Budget to Fund Full Restoration of Historic Wood Covered Bridge at Bridgeport
Thanks to Governor Brown, State Legislators, and Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), the funding to save the longest, single span wood covered bridge left in the world is assured.
DPR reports there is $4.128m in the approved 2017-2018 budget allocated for the renovation of this historical treasure.
Governor’s Proposed Budget allocates $3,226,000 to the Bridgeport Bridge Restoration Project for 2017-18
On Tuesday, January 10, 2017, California Governor Edmond G. Brown released the proposed 2017-18 State Budget which included an allocation of $3,226,000 for the construction costs for restoration of the Bridgeport Bridge in Nevada County. Specifically, the funds are being allocated through the Department of Parks and Recreation’s State Building Program Expenditures. This achievement was due to advocacy work by the Save Our Bridge Campaign Committee (S.O.B.), the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) and District IV Supervisor, Hank Weston.
Supervisor Weston, Save Our Bridge Campaign Committee and SYRCL meet with CA Department of Parks & Recreation Director on Bridgeport Bridge Restoration Project
NEXT BIG GOAL: SECURE FULL FUNDING FOR FINAL CONSTRUCTION
BRIDGEPORT COVERED BRIDGE REPAIR ON-TRACK DESPITE COST INCREASES