Work is wrapping up on the Germantown Covered Bridge, which has been under construction since March. The $1 million project has been mostly covered by grants. After facing delays due to flooding in May, work on the bridge is in its final stages.

The historic Covered Bridge is undergoing renovation designed to address structural concerns and support the longevity of the community landmark. This work will allow the bridge to be once again eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the renovation includes installation of new white oak floor beams, the replacement of overstressed or substandard truss elements, and replacement of the roof. A mesh and cable railing will also be added to meet safety requirements while minimizing visual impacts to the structure. The existing bowstring suspension system and stone abutments will be retained. By limiting replacement activities to only deficient and substandard features, the project will retain approximately 93% of the original bridge fabric.

Amy Schmidt of Fishbeck Engineering provided an update at the November Germantown City Council meeting. She said the contractor should be wrapping up work on the roof, using cedar shakes to maintain the bridge’s historic construction.

She also noted the installation of black mesh along the sides of the bridge, a modern requirement for pedestrian use.

“The ODOT inspector who was out there last week was taking great pride in being involved in the project,” Schmidt said. “I think there were people on a tour from New Mexico, Texas, you know, people come from all over the United States come to see this bridge. So that's pretty exciting.”

The City Manager told Council there will be a ribbon-cutting in the spring to celebrate the updates to the bridge.

In a statement after the meeting, City spokesperson Will Parsons said, “The bridge is not open quite yet as there are still some final touches and inspections that need to be completed before it is officially reopened for public use.”

Asked about plans for holiday lighting, Parsons said, “We do plan to decorate the bridge as we have done similarly in years past. The timing for this will be contingent on when work is completed, as we do not want to be a hindrance. We also have to wait for the electricity at the bridge to be restored and approved for use.” 

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