Restoration work planned for Armstrong Covered Bridge, a Cambridge landmark

A Cambridge landmark is getting a makeover.

Restoration work is scheduled to begin in mid August on the Armstrong Covered Bridge, which has called the City Park home since the late 1960s.

The city administration awarded the contract for the work earlier this year to Cambridge-based Crossroads Construction.

Workers first assessed the bridge, determining what timbers required replacement. An order was then made by the contractor to a specialized company for the custom prepared wood.

Once the contractor receives the wood, the bridge will be closed to foot traffic and restoration work will begin. A simulated dark-colored cedar shingle roof will replace the current tin roof, itself a replacement of the original. Side boards, cross braces and beams will be replaced as needed.

No foundation work is planned, Sherry said. The metal braces beneath the bridge will be retained.

The work will not alter the dimensions of the bridge, Sherry said, approximately 75 feet long, 13 feet wide and 17 feet high at the peak of the roof.

The contract calls for the work to be completed by May 3, 2015. However, the contractor anticipates completing the work within a 90-day window.

Total cost of the project is approximately $200,000. The local match is $30,000, to be taken from the Continuous Street Improvement Fund line item.

Funding for the work comes through the Ohio Department of Transportation via the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program.

Originally posted here:
Restoration work planned for Armstrong Covered Bridge, a Cambridge landmark