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.
NEWS RELEASE
A BRIDGEPORT BRIDGE RENOVATION MILESTONE!
A BRIDGEPORT BRIDGE RENOVATION MILESTONE!
On Monday May 24, the historical covered wood Bridge renovation project at Bridgeport in the South Yuba River State Park hit a major milestone! The Bridge was lowered from the supporting structure that has held it suspended over the south fork of the Yuba River for the past 20 months onto its own foundation. A major portion of the structural work has been completed and it is now time for the true test! Soon the major arch support, that is such a distinguishing aspect of the Bridge, will be installed along with the flooring and roof structure. Also, the temporary steel bridge support structure will soon be removed. Once the shake roof and siding are installed, we will all be able to see the Bridge very much like it was when first completed by David Wood back in 1862. This historical treasure, the longest single span wood covered Bridge in the world, will soon reopen to the public. We will all be able to experience crossing the Bridge over the Yuba as did the early pioneers and miners. We are all looking forward to the Grand Re-opening of the Bridge later this year.
Doug Moon
Chair – Save Our Bridge Campaign Committee
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Bridgeport Covered Bridge Rehabilitation & Restoration
RECAP: May 2021
Submitted by John Field
Since the above news release was issued on May 25, 2021, the first Arch Leaf (of four) was assembled and fit
above the deck level on the East side. Earlier in the month many of the Roof Assemblies were fabricated and
installed, the steel struts that reinforce the top Chords together on both sides were installed, and the second half
of the Arch Buckets (the receptors of the Arches at their terminus) were bolted into place at both abutments.
As we begin the third year of this monumental endeavor, progress will continue at an efficient pace as we near
completion targeted for late Summer or early Fall of 2021.
This recap is a mere abbreviation of the work and complexities involved. For comprehensive detail, you can view
the installation process in assorted Photo and Video formats in the May 2021 folder found on this website by
clicking on the Ongoing Progress Photos and Videos button directly below this text.
Month 24 Completed.
***
The many photos and videos available will give you a complete tour of the process along with monthly YouTube
presentations created as a compilation (by Herb Lindberg) of the ongoing photos and videos.
A new feature: Monthly Slide Shows compiled from all the monthly progress photos and videos. Below, you
will see a new button to click on to access your choice of monthly slide shows.
Special thanks go out to Bridgewright Will Truax and Inspector John Rebenstorff for their contributions to our
archival collection of photos and videos.
We will continue to update monthly ... Please see the Ongoing Progress Photos and Videos by clicking on the
button directly below where you will also find the many prior month’s folders consisting of progress photos and
videos for you to view. The current month will be a running list of the most current photos and videos.
Comments and descriptions accompany the photos and videos as usual.
Be Safe and Stay Well...
Restoration Ongoing Progress
Ongoing Progress Photos/Videos...
Monthly Progress Slideshows...
YouTube Monthly Recap Videos...
To see the May, part 1, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the May, part 2, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the April, part 1, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the April, part 2, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the March, part 1, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the March, part 2, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the February, part 1, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the February, part 2, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the January bridge progress video, click on the image below.
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.
 .JPG)
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
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Bridgeport Covered Bridge Rehabilitation & Restoration
Bridgeport Covered Bridge Rehabilitation & Restoration
RECAP: May 2021
Submitted by John Field
Since the above news release was issued on May 25, 2021, the first Arch Leaf (of four) was assembled and fit above the deck level on the East side. Earlier in the month many of the Roof Assemblies were fabricated and installed, the steel struts that reinforce the top Chords together on both sides were installed, and the second half of the Arch Buckets (the receptors of the Arches at their terminus) were bolted into place at both abutments. As we begin the third year of this monumental endeavor, progress will continue at an efficient pace as we near completion targeted for late Summer or early Fall of 2021.
This recap is a mere abbreviation of the work and complexities involved. For comprehensive detail, you can view the installation process in assorted Photo and Video formats in the May 2021 folder found on this website by clicking on the Ongoing Progress Photos and Videos button directly below this text.
Month 24 Completed.
***
The many photos and videos available will give you a complete tour of the process along with monthly YouTube presentations created as a compilation (by Herb Lindberg) of the ongoing photos and videos.
A new feature: Monthly Slide Shows compiled from all the monthly progress photos and videos. Below, you will see a new button to click on to access your choice of monthly slide shows.
Special thanks go out to Bridgewright Will Truax and Inspector John Rebenstorff for their contributions to our archival collection of photos and videos.
We will continue to update monthly ... Please see the Ongoing Progress Photos and Videos by clicking on the button directly below where you will also find the many prior month’s folders consisting of progress photos and videos for you to view. The current month will be a running list of the most current photos and videos.
Comments and descriptions accompany the photos and videos as usual.
Be Safe and Stay Well...
Restoration Ongoing Progress
Ongoing Progress Photos/Videos...
Monthly Progress Slideshows...
YouTube Monthly Recap Videos...
To see the May, part 1, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the May, part 2, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the April, part 1, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the April, part 2, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the March, part 1, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the March, part 2, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the February, part 1, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the February, part 2, bridge progress video, click on the image below.
To see the January bridge progress video, click on the image below.
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.