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Monroe Commissioners Consider Action on Collapsed Bridge

The Knowlton Covered Bridge collapsed in July. On Tuesday, a resident of Monroe County urged the commissioners to take action for fear of liability and loss of state funding.

WOODSFIELD – An area resident was before the Monroe County Commissioners Tuesday, urging them to take action regarding the collapsed Knowlton Covered Bridge.

The 132-year-old bridge collapsed in early July month before any renovation plans could get underway. $950,000 in state funding had been allocated for a renovation, with Monroe County to provide $50,000 for a total cost of close to $1 million. The commissioners are hoping for have a reconstruction project instead.

Commissioners Tim Price, Carl Davis and Mick Schumacher are also in the process of arranging a cleanup for the debris.

Chuck Dye, of the Jerusalem area, expressed concern about the potential loss of funding if no action is taken.

“It doesn’t seem to be moving with a lot of speed and I’m afraid part of the funding’s going to go,” he said. “I know there’s been funding put in to do … the feasibility for the rebuilding. I know you gentlemen don’t want to move ahead till you know the amount … but sometimes we’ve got to fly by the seat of our pants or we’re going to lose money.

“We need more movement. … I’m afraid we’re going lose potential help to remedy the situation if there’s not more movement.”

Dye also said the debris has not yet been cleaned up.

“The bad weather’s here, and if we let the winter weather lodge in certain places, it’s not going to go away. It’s going to make cleanup more expensive,” he said.

He voiced concerns about Monroe County’s liability should the debris cause injury.

“Every piece that fell out of that bridge is still somewhere, scattered out in two counties.”

Currently, Woolpert Inc. is conducting the design study at a cost of $17,833, paid for by a donation from the Ohio Historical Bridge Association.

“I personally hope that we can get it rebuilt,” Price said.

Schumacher said he believed other entities may be interested in the funding.

County Engineer Amy Zwick said she is waiting for design plans, and advised the commissioners to consult with Woolpert and look at a timeline for possible construction.

“I’ll be happy to communicate that to (the Ohio Department of Transportation),” she said. “Until they have dates to program it, there’s no way to put money in there.”

“I know that there are at least two different counties that have projects that they have everything ready to go,” she said. “They were intending to go ahead and apply. There’s no guarantee at this point…I definitely encourage you to get some kind of timeline nailed down and get some sort of plan in place,” she said. “Right now the money’s there. … I know it’s difficult when you don’t know exactly what it’s going to cost.”

The commissioners held a conference call with Ron Mattox of Woolpert Inc. Davis asked if a timeline could be provided by 2020.

“I would think they would want to get this awarded in 2020,” Mattox said, adding the optimum time would be before the end of June. “That’s very doable for us.”

He advised looking into available timber as well as the state of existing end-spans.

“I’d like to make sure that those things are stable,” Mattox said.

“That one across the river is pretty precarious,” Schumacher said. “The weight of a snowfall will take the rest of that down.”

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