Project Updates
June 12, 2019
HISTORIC COVERED BRIDGE RESTORATION HAS BEGUN
Mobilization by Spectra Contractors of Pomona, California, have begun installing fencing, office trailers and equipment in preparation for a major renovation of the historic covered bridge at South Yuba River State ParkBridgeport in Penn Valley, California.
Built in 1862, the bridge has undergone other renovations and repairs with this being a major undertaking. Once the project is completed, expected in the fall of 2020, it will be eighteen inches higher with new shingles, sidings, floor planking, interior trusses and steel tension rods.
Progress photos will develop on a daily basis with eventual aerial drone coverage and You Tube stories at this page(See Restoration Progress - June, 2019).
The South parking lot is closed during the project, however the North parking remains available for public use.
The Visitor Center, Barn and Gas Station will remain open as well as weekend gold panning and beach access.
For more information, please call 530-432-2546.
January 7, 2019
The reconstruction project on the Bridgeport Covered Bridge is moving forward. A construction contract was awarded to Spectra Company in the fall of 2018. The total project cost is $6.9 million. Spectra Company will begin mobilizing materials and equipment this spring in preparation of starting construction in late spring or early summer, once water levels are safe. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.
A new website has been created by DPR staff for the Project. It is quite extensive and has a lot of the plans, history, drawings and reports related to the Project. It is available for anyone to access.
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
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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
***
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...
Restoration Ongoing Progress
Ongoing Progress Photos/Videos...
To see the December bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the November bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see part 1 of October bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see part 2 of October bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see September bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see August bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see July bridge progress video part 1 of 2, click on the image below.
To see July bridge progress video part 2 of 2, click on the image below.
To see June bridge progress video part 1 of 2, click on the image below.
To see June bridge progress video part 2 of 2, click on the image below.
To see May bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see April bridge progress video part 1 of 2, click on the image below.
To see April bridge progress video part 2 of 2, click on the image below.
To see March bridge progress, click on the image below.
To see February bridge progress, click on the image below.
To see January bridge progress, click on the image below.
To see a 7-minute video on construction of the (stabilization) cradles in 2014, click on the image below.
To see a short summary of the progress made in 2019, click on the image below.
To see a video of the December bridge restoration progress, click on the image below.
To see a video of the November bridge restoration progress, click on the image below.
To see a video of the October bridge restoration progress, click on the image below.
To see a video of the September bridge restoration progress, click on the image below.
To see a video of the August bridge restoration progress, click on the image below.
To see a video of the July 1 to 31 bridge restoration progress, click on the image below.
To see a video of the June 12 to 28 bridge restoration progress, click on the image below.
Preparation For Bridge Restoration - April, 2015
Phase2 - Stabilization Photos...
Phase 1 Bridge Stabilization - September, 2014
PLEASE NOTE: EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT INDICATED OTHERWISE, ALL RIGHTS, TITLE AND INTEREST, INCLUDING COPYRIGHT, IN AND TO ALL PHOTOS, VIDEOS AND OTHER MEDIA CONTENT FOUND ON THIS PART OF THIS WEBSITE CREATED BY STATE PARKS’ VOLUNTEERS OR STATE PARKS’ STAFF BELONG TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION.