WELCOME
TO THE SOUTH YUBA RIVER STATE PARK
Sierra Gold Parks Foundation
Year End Bridge Restoration Update – Save Our Bridge Campaign Committee
Year End Bridge Restoration Update – Save Our Bridge Campaign Committee
This has been a difficult year for everyone and the same applies to the Bridgeport Bridge Restoration Project. The original estimate for completion of the restoration was late spring 2020. There were delays caused by the introduction of a different design for the “Mabey Bridge” installation used to support the wood bridge during construction, some major engineering design and implementation delays in late spring and early summer, and there have been recent delays caused by abutment and foundation issues. The good news is there is total commitment by California State Parks, the Sierra Gold Parks Foundation and the Save Our Bridge Campaign Committee to complete this project and open to the public a fully restored historic covered wood Bridge. The longest of its kind in the world!
The foundation work is almost complete. The next steps are to introduce the major wood support beams, then the roof and bottom beams and to rebuild and install the huge arches that span the Bridge. All the necessary timber for the complete restoration is at the work site. The Bridge Wrights and carpenters have been fashioning all of these major components and most are ready to install as soon as the foundation work is complete. Many of the original 1862 timbers have been saved and are being used in the reconstruction of the Bridge, as well as eight original iron rods with the 1862 maker’s marks from iron foundries all over the world.
Realistically, completion of the Bridge restoration looks like it will be in the spring of 2021. Another good reason to look forward to a better year in 2021! Wishing everyone a very happy, safe and healthy New Year!
Doug Moon
Chair – Save Our Bridge Campaign Committee
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Bridgeport Covered Bridge Rehabilitation & Restoration
Bridgeport Covered Bridge Rehabilitation & Restoration
RECAP: November / December 2020
Submitted by John Field
As the year 2020 winds down to an end, we can look back on much successful progress made towards the Restoration and Rehabilitation of our beloved 1862 Wooden Covered Bridge. We are very appreciative of the talent, knowledge and craftsmanship of all the carpenters, concrete and steel workers who have so-far contributed to what has the feeling of an efficient re-building process and something to be immensely proud of in the end. The many progress photos and videos are self-explanatory if you seek them out by clicking on the button below entitled “Ongoing Progress Photos /Videos”. Since we are condensing November and December into this final report for 2020, please take a look at the YouTube presentations for both months found below as well.
Now that the abutments have walls and mostly backfilled, it will be very soon before the bolster beams and bottom staggered chords will be placed, and we will see the bridge resting at its new height. From there, assembly will become very apparent by the completion of the truss X-sections and installation of the buttresses among other vital components…Stay tuned as we continue to follow the progress into 2021.
End of Months 18 & 19 and the conclusion of the year 2020
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The many photos and videos available will give you a complete tour of the process along with monthly YouTube presentations (now narrated in part) created as a compilation (by Herb Lindberg) of the ongoing photos and videos.
We will continue to update monthly...Please see the Ongoing Progress Photos and Videos by clicking on the button below where you will also find the many prior month’s folders consisting of photos and videos for you to view while the current month will be a running list of the most current photos.
Comments and descriptions accompany the photos and videos as usual.
Be Safe and Stay Well...
Ongoing Progress Photos/Videos...
To see the November bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the December bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see additional information regarding the bridge restoration project, click the link below.
Tucked away in scenic and historic Nevada County
South Yuba River State Park has a little something for everybody. The patchwork park boundaries form a “string of pearls” for 20 miles along the river, including four historic bridges, miles of hiking trails, and the nation´s only wheelchair-accessible wilderness trail, the Independence Trail. The river´s beauty and solitude has long inspired the dedication and stewardship of those who know it best.
Come discover the many faces of the South Yuba River.
Wander through the history of the Bridgeport Covered Bridge, learn more about the wagons that traveled these parts, pan for gold, escape to a hidden swimming hole, roam trails along the river surrounded by wildflowers, and so much more.
Save Our Bridge
Campaign to Save Our Bridge continues. The Bridge was stabilized in February 2015 with a temporary structure. Funding of $1.316 million was allocated in 2014 by the State towards the restoration of the bridge. All of your emails, faxes, letters and phone calls to Sacramento made that happen.
Most of 2015 was spent performing an in-depth assessment and preparing the engineering drawings needed to restore the Bridge. There was also a thorough analysis of the costs to fully restore the Bridge. This past year, 2016, was spent working on obtaining all of the necessary permits and environmental impact reports necessary to begin construction.
January 2017 delivered great news as Governor Brown has included the necessary $3.226 million to complete the project in the 2017-2018 State budget! Please follow the link below for the latest news.
We still need your support! Please continue to stay informed and involved in this project. Check this website for updates and respond to future “Action Alerts”, as we may need to communicate our positions on issues during the restoration with State Representatives. Together, we can Save Our Bridge.
Current Events
UPLIFTING NEWS ABOUT HISTORIC BRIDGEPORT BRIDGE PROJECT!
During these trying times the Save Our Bridge Campaign Committee wanted to share some “uplifting” news (pun intended!). The project to restore and re-open the historic covered wood Bridge crossing the South Yuba River at Bridgeport is back on track after a four month delay in construction.
THE SAVE OUR BRIDGE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE AND SIERRA GOLD PARKS FOUNDATION SPONSOR NEVADA COUNTY SCHOOLS STUDENT ARTS COMPETITION.
The Save our Bridge Campaign Committee and the Sierra Gold Parks Foundation are pleased to sponsor this year’s Nevada County Schools’ Student art competition. The subject of the competition is “Flowing Through History -The Bridgeport Bridge Restoration Project”. This partnership with the Nevada County Schools Superintendent’s Office is a great opportunity for students throughout Nevada County to learn about the restoration of the iconic Bridge at Bridgeport, South Yuba River State Park and the significance this Bridge has in the history of California and Nevada County.
BRIDGE FUND-RAISING EVENT A BIG SUCCESS
LOCAL BUSINESSES RAISE FUNDS FOR HISTORIC BRIDGE
JOIN US FOR SPRING BIRD WALKS AT SOUTH YUBA RIVER STATE PARK
GEOLOGY WALKS
For more information contact South Yuba River State Park at (530) 432-2546.
HISTORIC COVERED BRIDGE RENOVATION and MALAKOFF SOLAR PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD
2020 WILDFLOWER WALKS
For more information contact South Yuba River State Park at (530) 432-2546.