Rehabilitation Projects for Covered Bridges of Georgia

The people of Barrow and Walton Counties had raised over $300,000 to preserve Kilgore Mill Covered Bridge. A ten acre park was planned with 24 hour-a-day security. Unfortunately on April 23, 1993 arsonists dashed their dreams, hopes, and plans when the bridge was destroyed by fire. Due to the isolated location of many covered bridges, they are very vulnerable to those who would destroy what others have given so much to build.

Very few people have given much thought to covered bridges as historic monuments. But these old remains are the only monuments standing today to the engineering talents of a breed of men that labored in their construction so long ago. These old relics of the 1800's and early 1900's once numbered conservatively 250 across Georgia. In 1955, the ranks of covered bridges had been reduced to 77. Their numbers dwindled to 25 by the '70's. With flood, fire, vandalism and progress, their un-yielding adversary, there are only 13 of the "old timber tunnels" left standing.

ISTEA Bridge Restoration Project in Georgia

As part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), a Transportation Enhancement Program was established to "enrich the traveling experience through enhancements to the transportation system." The FHWA provided 80% matching funds for eligible projects. Georgia let $1,592,521 worth of work repairing the bridges listed below. All repairs were complete by September 1999. The program was so successful that the FHWA allocated an additional $10 million nationwide for rehabilitations in other states.

Though additional work was required at some locations, following is a summary of the work that was to be performed at each bridge site.

Howard's Bridge

The contract for this project was let in April 1997 for $125,840. The scope of work included:

• Replacement of the metal roof; replacement of 3 missing cross-bracing members at the ceiling beams
• Securing of all cross-bracing to beams at each connection
• Replacement of missing weatherboarding and the application of wood preservative to the exterior of the bridge
• Replacement of damaged chord members
• Replacement of 6 split lattice members
• Replacement of 15 pegs
• Replacement of 2 chin braces
• Securing of all chin braces at the top chord
• Attachment of each brace at the bottom with steel angles and bolts
• Replacement of 1 floor beam
• Securing of all cross-bracing to the floor beams at each connection
• Replacement of beams, flooring and treads at the southern approach
• Removal of earth from around the wood members at the north approach
• Repair or replacement of damaged wood members and the construction of a trench drain system to separate the wood structure from the earth fill.

Cromer's Mill Bridge

The contract for this project was let in September, 1998 for $147,815. The scope of work included:

• Replacement of the existing metal roof
• Replacement of missing or broken cross-bracing members at ceiling beams
• Securing of all connections of cross-members to beams
• Replacement of missing and broken weatherboarding, to match the existing
• Application of wood preservative to the exterior of the bridge to protect weatherboarding
• Shoring up of the east truss and the replacement of the broken chord members at the pole support; replacement of deteriorated chord members at the north end of the bridge
• Replacement of 6 broken lattice members; repair of the truss at the north end where the truss has been shortened
• Replacement of chin braces; reinforcement of the connections of all chin braces to the top chord
• Attachment of all chin braces at the bottom
• Replacement of damaged or deteriorated floor decking and treads
• Installation of flat board at the edge of the floor to cover the gap between the flooring and chord of truss
• Replacement of 6 floor joists
• Construction of a new concrete pier at the north end of the bridge
• Provision of a new sole plate and heel plate to support trusses
• Repair of the existing pier at the south end of bridge
• Forming and pouring of a concrete cap on top of the pier
• Excavation of the earthen approach on the north end of the bridge
• Construction of a new abutment and wooden approach at the north end
• Removal of the existing approach at the south end of the bridge and excavation of earth behind the existing pier
• Construction of a new abutment and wooden approach at the south end
• Placement of a concrete bollard at each end of the bridge.

Euharlee Creek Bridge

The contract for this project was let in November 1997 for $162,998. The scope of work included:

• Inspection of the metal roof to identify panels that need replacement
• Application of an asphaltic coating to prolong the roof's life
• Replacement of broken or damaged ceiling beams to match originals
• Replacement of missing or broken cross-bracing members at the ceiling beams
• Securing all connections of cross-bracing members to the beams
• Replacement of missing or broken weatherboarding to match existing siding
• Application of a wood preservative to the exterior to protect weatherboarding
• Replacement of 10 lattice members on the south side of the bridge; reinforcement of all chin braces on top chords and the attachment of these chin braces at the bottom
• Removal and replacement of all 16 floor beams to match originals
• Installation of new cross bracing between new floor beams
• Repair of the crack in the east abutment; removal and replacement of all wood decking in the approach structures with pressure treated lumber
• Placement of a concrete bollard at each end of the bridge
• Provisions for the repair of the fire alarm and sprinkler system
• Also, the steel beams would be sand-blasted and painted with a high-quality rust-inhibiting paint.

Stovall Mill Bridge

The contract for this project was let in November 1997 for $89,107. Once the extent of termite damage was realized, additional money was allocated. The scope of work included:

• Consolidation of termite damaged areas of the truss with epoxy
• Attachment of two cross timbers below the beams to each of the longitudinal floor beams with 1" through bolts
• Clean all earth from around floor beams; replace 25% of floor beams
• Remove earth from behind piers
• New approaches using treated timbers and construction of new concrete approach abutments
• Treat bridge for termites

Elder's Mill Covered Bridge

The contract for this project was let in April 1997 for $162,030. The scope of work included:

• Replacement of broken ceiling beams to match the originals
• Replacement of broken cross-bracing members at ceiling beams and the securing of all connections of cross-bracing members to beams
• Application of wood preservative to the exterior of the bridge to protect weatherboarding
• Replacement of 4 lattice members and consolidation of termite damaged areas with epoxy
• Replacement of 4 chin braces and reinforcement of the connections of all chin braces to the top chord and their attachment to the bottom
• Addition of horizontal guard rails to each end of the bridge to prevent oversized vehicles from reaching the bridge
• Replacement of damaged floor decking and treads
• Replacement of damaged floor beams to match the original
• Provisions for steel hangars at all beams
• Replacement of broken cross-bracing members at floor beams
• Securing of all connections of cross-breaking members to beams
• Removal of accumulated dirt between sole plates and atop piers
• Removal of earth from around all wood structure at approaches
• Repairing all damaged wood members
• Reconstruction of a trench drain system along the end of the approach to separate the wood structure from the earth
• Treatment of the abutment areas for termites
• Installation of electrical service and bridge lighting

Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge

A contract for $176,253 was awarded in November 1998. The scope of work included:

• Installation of a new metal roof
• Replacement of missing or broken roof rafters
• Replacement of 13 ceiling beams
• Replacement of all cross-bracing between ceiling beams
• Replacement of missing weatherboarding; application of wood preservative to the exterior of the bridge
• Replacement of 10 split lattice members to match the existing ones
• Replacement of 12 members to match the existing ones
• Replacement of 12 pegs
• Reinforcement of the damaged bottom chord member with a steel plate
• Addition of guard rails to chin braces to protect from vehicular damage
• Replacement of 8 floor beams
• Provisions for steel hangars for each beam, original and replacements
• Replacement of 10 cross-bracing members between floor beams
• Provisions for reinforcement at each connection
• Installation of new height restrictors at each end of bridge

Watson Mill Covered Bridge

The contract for this work was let in April 1997 for $165,880. The scope included:

• Application of a wood preservative to the exterior of bridge to protect weatherboarding
• Addition of horizontal guard rails to the chin braces to protect from vehicular damage
• Addition of steel rod cross-bracing to bottom of floor structure
• Provisions to jack the bridge from piers and replacements of the sole plates with steel beams
• Modification of the heel plates as required for proper support of the bottom truss chord; excavation of earth fill from behind retaining wall, south approach, to relieve pressure on wall; removal of earth from around wood structure at approaches
• Replacement of damaged wood members; construction of a trench drain system along end of approach to protect structure from earth
• Installation of new height restrictors at each end of bridge to prevent oversized vehicles from reaching bridge

Poole's Mill Covered Bridge

Due to the added expense of adding a midstream pier, the contract for this bridge was $283,403. An adjoining park is now open. The scope of work included:

• Replacement of the existing metal roof; securing of all connections of cross-bracing members to beams
• Installation of new board and batten siding for the entire bridge
• Application of wood preservative to the exterior of the bridge to protect weatherboarding
• Replacement of 12 lattice members; replacement of 25 wood trunnels by overdrilling of the existing holes and the installation of oversized trunnels to create solid connections
• Reinforcement of connections of all chin braces at the top chords
• Attachment of all chin braces at the bottom
• Repairing of a damaged chin brace; replacement of damaged floor decking or treads
• Replacement of broken floor beams to match originals; replacement of broken cross-bracing members at ceiling beams
• Replacement of broken floor joists to match originals
• Construction of a new concrete pier in the creek to support the bridge at midspan and for removal of an existing sag
• Removal of accumulated dirt between the existing sole plates atop the piers
• Removal of earth from around all wood structures at the approaches
• Repair of damaged wood members; construction of a trench drain system along the end of approach to separate bridge from earth
• Placement of a concrete bollard at each end of bridge
• New electrical service and lighting

Concord Covered Bridge

The contract for $151,188 was let in September, 1998. The project scope included:

• Repair of damaged framing and weatherboarding at the east gable
• Application of wood preservative to exterior of bridge
• New treads at the floor of the bridge
• Cut back paving and remove earth from the ends of the bridge
• Installation of a trench drain to separate the bridge structure from the earth and pavement
• Repair of a crack in the center stone pier
• Install new height restrictors at each end of bridge
• Install new electrical service and lighting at the ends and interior of the bridge.

Coheelee Creek Bridge

A contract for this project was awarded for $128,007. The scope of work included:

• Replace missing or damaged roof beams with 5x9 pine
• Tie down beams with steel rods to match original rods (using the original rods where feasible)
• Replace existing metal roof with a wood shingle roof
• Replace end rafter at southeast corner of bridge
• Consolidate termite damage areas with epoxy as directed by the engineer
• Replace missing nuts at trusses
• Replace bent rod to match existing
• Reinstall diagonal knee braces between posts and corresponding roof beams with 4x6 No. 2 pine
• Replace missing or damaged weather boarding and battens to match existing sizes
• Replace all weather boarding and battens at south end of bridge
• Trim board and battens at bottom to a uniform length
• Clean earth from beams
• Reinforce beams
• Replace damaged purlins with 6x10 pine
• Replacement includes removal of railroad cross-tie supports that have been added at these locations
• Replace 5 feet of the treads on the east side of both ends of the bridge.