PRESS

Foraker Covered Bridge Earns Ohio Historic Bridge Award

Aug. 30, 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Aug. 30, 2017) — The Statewide Historic Bridge Preservation Award was presented last week to Monroe County Engineer Amy Zwick and Assistant Engineer James Fleeman, Woolpert transportation engineers/designers Ron Mattox and Tom Less, and The Righter Co. Project Manager Mike Killilea and President Brad Nadolson for the rehabilitation and preservation of the Foraker Covered Bridge. The award presentation took place during the 2017 Ohio Bridge Conference in Columbus.

The Foraker Covered Bridge was originally constructed in 1886 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge spans the Little Muskingum River on Plainview Road (County Route 40) in Monroe County.

Monroe County hired Woolpert in 2015 to perform an inspection, provide a rehabilitation estimate for funding application and provide detailed rehabilitation plans for the 92-foot bridge, which sagged 11 inches. The national architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm identified multiple connection failures, mold and insect damage.

Monroe County contracted with Righter, which has renovated or rebuilt more than 50 covered bridges and has vast experience with timber framing, to help address these issues. The team used historic timber framing techniques to raise the bridge’s elevation to the proper camber, replace fractured and deteriorated members, improve safety and overall functionality, and match original details.

The renovation—funded by local, state and federal funds—was completed in October 2016.

The Statewide Historic Bridge Preservation Award was bestowed by the Federal Highway Administration, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office and the County Engineers Association of Ohio, which hosts the Ohio Bridge Conference.

About Woolpert

Woolpert is a national architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm that delivers value to clients by strategically blending engineering excellence with leading-edge technology and geospatial applications. With a dynamic R&D department, Woolpert works with inventive business partners like Google and Esri; operates a fleet of planes, sensors and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS); and continually pushes industry boundaries by working with advanced water technologies, asset management, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and sustainable design. Woolpert’s mission is to help its clients progress—and become more progressive. For over 100 years and with 25 offices across the United States, Woolpert serves the needs of federal, state and local governments; private and public companies and universities; energy and transportation departments; and the United States Armed Forces. The firm currently is doing business in all 50 states and in six countries. For more information, visit woolpert.com or call 937-531-1258.

About Righter

The Righter Co. Inc., is a diversified general contractor that has completed hundreds of projects throughout the state of Ohio, and surrounding states over the last 40 years. The company is prequalified by the Ohio Department of Transportation for bridges of all types (ODOT level 3), culverts, earth retention, water and wastewater treatment plants, earthwork, grading, deep sewer and/or excavation, general building construction and demolition. The company has constructed bridges, roadways, water/wastewater treatment plants, storm/sanitary sewers, waterlines, piling, earth retention, new buildings, and renovations of existing buildings. Righter’s clients include federal, state, county and local governments, along with many private industry owners. For more information, visit rightercompany.com.