BRIDGE: Speakman covered bridge update

Repair work started on the Speakman #1 covered bridge on Frog Hollow Road in mid-December, and I stopped by on Sunday to see the progress. The covered bridge has already been completely dismantled, leaving only the stone abutment in place on the East Fallowfield side of the Buck Run. On the West Marlborough side is an arc of white sandbags.

The Speakman #1 covered bridge over the Buck Run has been removed for repair.

The project should be finished, and the long-closed Frog Hollow Road reopened, by September 2016.
  Here are the details of the project, according to the contractor, Eastern Highway Specialists:
"·        The wood portion of the covered bridge will be dismantled. It will be removed from the site and taken to the warehouse of Lancaster County Timber Frame (LCTF) who will do the rehabilitation work on the timber trusses and associated structural timber. In conjunction with this we have hired Rettew Associates, an experienced engineering firm, to inspect the timber and determine if any additional replacement is necessary.

 ·        During the winter months LCTF will be doing the timber rehabilitation. During this time we (EHS) will remove the remaining structure and the two abutments. We will then begin the reconstruction of the abutments. The new abutments will be modern cast in place and reinforced concrete but will have stone masonry veneer or stone walls on the exterior. In the end, the new structure will be encased in true stone masonry. One of the local masons, Dan Gallagher, will be doing the stone masonry work.

 ·        The new covered bridge structure will be supported by new steel beams which will be erected on the new abutments. This work is expected to take place in late spring of 2016. After this the covered  bridge will re-erected on the site."