Carrollton Covered Bridge’s restoration could begin soon
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The historic Carrollton Covered Bridge in Barbour County may soon undergo restoration work, after being damaged by fire in August 2017
CARROLLTON -- Restoration work is almost ready to begin on the historic Carrollton Covered Bridge in Barbour County, state officials announced Wednesday.
"We're committed to getting this bridge rebuilt," said West Virginia Division of Highways District 7 Engineer Brian Cooper. "We appreciate the public being patient as we've worked out the plans to get it done."
An Aug. 10, 2017, fire -- which was later determined to be arson -- destroyed much of the outer covering of the bridge, but left the basic structure mostly intact.
After making minor repairs to the deck and structure to ensure the bridge was safe, the DOH reopened it to traffic in September 2017. DOH then hired a consultant to best determine how to restore the historic bridge.
The West Virginia Division of Highways was able to reopen the bridge to traffic in September 2017 after making minor repairs to the deck and structure to ensure the bridge was safe.
The DOH then hired a consultant to best determine how to restore the historic bridge.
"Initial plans were for a consultant to do the restoration work, but in November 2020 it was decided to leave the work to DOH work crews, who could restore the bridge more economically," a Wednesday DOH press release states. "DOH has since been securing bids for materials necessary to restore the span."
Upshur County's Tiger Diversified LLC was awarded a contract in late May to provide the timber for the restoration project.
On June 24, DOH received a bid of $400,000 to provide the scaffolding and rigging system necessary to do the work. If the bid is accepted, restoration work on the bridge could begin quickly, Cooper said.
The bridge is the third-oldest surviving covered bridge in West Virginia,
The bridge was built in 1856 by Emmett and Daniel O'Brien, and crosses the Buckhannon River near the town of Carrollton. At 140 feet long, it is the second-longest surviving covered bridge in West Virginia.
The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.