Got it Covered: Hills Covered Bridge in Newport reopens – Marietta Times

An opening in the side of the Hills Covered Bridge shows the Little Muskingum River during Tuesdays overcast and slightly rainy afternoon. It didnt dampen the ribbon-cutting festivities. No holes in the roof anymore, County Engineer Roger Wright pointed out. (Photo by Nancy Taylor) Mike Killilea and Chris Thompson of The Righter Co., center, do the honors on the Hills Covered Bridge ribbon cutting Tuesday in Newport Township. Washington County Engineer Roger Wright is shown to their right. Holding the ribbon ends are Robert and Zahra Wagner, who were married on the bridge in 2011. (Photo by Nancy Taylor) Area resident David Hart worked for Washington County and did repairs on the Hills Covered Bridge in 1985 or 1986, he said. We used 60-penny spikes and pounded em into the plywood, he said. (Photo by Nancy Taylor) Zahra and Robert Wagner attended the ribbon-cutting for the Hills Covered Bridge Tuesday, returning to the scene of their marriage vows a little more than 12 years ago. They placed hay bales along the interior sides of the bridge for the wedding guest seating, Zahra said. (Photo by Nancy Taylor) Zahra and Robert Wagner hold hands on the Hills Covered Bridge where they were married Sept. 17, 2011. We got permission first from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Zahra said. We got married in the middle of it. We stood on pieces of plywood so that if we dropped the rings, they wouldnt fall through holes in the floor and go in the river. There arent any holes in the floor now. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

An opening in the side of the Hills Covered Bridge shows the Little Muskingum River during Tuesdays overcast and slightly rainy afternoon. It didnt dampen the ribbon-cutting festivities. No holes in the roof anymore, County Engineer Roger Wright pointed out. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

Nobody ever has to explain to Washington County folks why its important to keep their covered bridges.

Theyre old history, new history, neighborhood memories and regional attractions. Theyve borne the weight of crops and cars, horses and hay wagons, funeral processions and party-goers.

Hills Covered Bridge in Newport Township is among those beloved structures. Perched high above the Little Muskingum River at County Roads 333 and 544, it has soaked up local life and stories in its timbers since it was built in 1878.

Tuesday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony organized by County Engineer Roger Wright to officially reopened the bridge to pedestrian traffic, along with celebrating a five-year effort that has successfully brought the bridge back from deterioration and disrepair.

The group attending included County Commissioners Kevin Ritter and James Booth, who gave brief remarks; the Newport Township Trustees; the staff of Wrights engineering department; employees of the county highway department who were involved in the finishing stages of the bridge approaches; representatives of the main contractor, The Righter Company of Columbus; and several area residents who had past history with the bridge.

Mike Killilea and Chris Thompson of The Righter Co., center, do the honors on the Hills Covered Bridge ribbon cutting Tuesday in Newport Township. Washington County Engineer Roger Wright is shown to their right. Holding the ribbon ends are Robert and Zahra Wagner, who were married on the bridge in 2011. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

The initial funding for the Hills Covered Bridge totaled more than $950,000. Work to do that involved repairing and restoring with a delicate balance between modern safety and historical dignity. The funding was 95% from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program, administered by the Ohio Department of Transportation, and 5% was local money.

The construction work done by The Righter Company was exceptional craftsmanship, Wright said.

The project featured replacement of deteriorated timber members within the lower chord, shear blocks in the lower chord, deteriorated diagonals at lower chord connections, lost and broken sway bracing, tension rods and broken tension rod castings, and miscellaneous repair of deteriorated timber member members, according to a press release issued by Wright.

If anybody wants to nerd it up and talk about the bridge repairs in detail, wed be glad to do that after the ribbon cutting, Wright said. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, not only because of its place in local history but also because of its historically significant construction, a Howe truss design.

To protect the investment in all that work and to ensure a long life cycle for the restoration, Wright said, the bridge got a new roof system, siding, span decking and various protectants to the timber members. If the roof and siding and other elements are properly maintained, we should get another hundred years out of it, he said.

Area resident David Hart worked for Washington County and did repairs on the Hills Covered Bridge in 1985 or 1986, he said. We used 60-penny spikes and pounded em into the plywood, he said. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

Local funds just over $130,000 and local work completed the project. The Washington County Highway Department crew built the two approach spans and made railings for them in a design reflecting the original span railings that had deteriorated to the point they were unable to be salvaged. Wright said he was thankful for the high rate of professionalism the county highway department and county engineering employees contributed to the project in the spirit of preserving history.

They do so much more than plow your roads, he said of the highway department crew.

Wright also had thanks for support from the previous county commissioners who helped get the project started and the current county commissioners who have helped to see it to completion.

Wright described the Hills Covered Bridge Restoration as vital to local tourism and predicts it will once again become a destination point for visitors, particularly since its near Marietta, the county seat. It is featured in the areas annual fall foliage tour, along with several bridge tours throughout the year.

Theres no doubt that people from Columbus and Pittsburgh and Cleveland will come to see this bit of history, Wright said. It has always been seen by local residents as one of the countys most impressive of the remaining nine covered bridges because of its height above the water, he noted.

Zahra and Robert Wagner attended the ribbon-cutting for the Hills Covered Bridge Tuesday, returning to the scene of their marriage vows a little more than 12 years ago. They placed hay bales along the interior sides of the bridge for the wedding guest seating, Zahra said. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

Before the actual ribbon-cutting ceremony, Wright told the group that had gathered for the Tuesday event, Thank you for coming. I hope youre pleased.

One of those attending was the Project Manager from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Tony Durm. His comments to Wright showed his satisfaction with the way things had gone. This will be good for many, many decades, he said. Its good to restore the soul to these old bridges.

Nancy Taylor can be reached at ntaylor@newsandsentinel.com.

Zahra and Robert Wagner hold hands on the Hills Covered Bridge where they were married Sept. 17, 2011. We got permission first from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Zahra said. We got married in the middle of it. We stood on pieces of plywood so that if we dropped the rings, they wouldnt fall through holes in the floor and go in the river. There arent any holes in the floor now. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

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Got it Covered: Hills Covered Bridge in Newport reopens - Marietta Times