Newton Falls covered bridge renovation project nearly done

The structure is the second-oldest covered bridge in Ohio.

By ERIC GROSSO

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NEWTON FALLS — The city is looking to celebrate a historic renovation project three years in the making and costing more than $1 million.

Newton Falls City Manager Jack Haney announced the covered bridge renovation is nearly complete.

Haney said the work should be finished in the next two to three weeks, ahead of the originally scheduled completion date in late December.

The work, totaling $1,061,800, came from a federal grant through the County Engineers Association of Ohio.

The completion will be followed by a reopening ceremony, still in its planning stages.

BECDIR Construction of Berlin Center started the project in July 2005 but stopped work in February 2006 because of a dispute with the Trumbull County commissioners.

BECDIR officials said during the process, termite damage was found in the structural beams, causing change to the original work order, along with other changes to the original work order from Trumbull County commissioners.

The original scheduled completion date for the project was May 2006. The Righter Co. of Columbus finally took over the job in May 2006.

Haney said possible activities for the reopening ceremony include a ceremonial “first car” driving over the bridge and the school’s marching band playing.

The bridge was originally built in 1831, is the last covered bridge in Ohio still in use at its original location, and is the second-oldest covered bridge in the state.