Bridging The Years

Friday, October 24, 2014
Linking three centuries as much as it does the two banks of Big Walnut Creek, Houck Covered Bridge in Washington Township was recently the subject of a $1.7 million project to rehabilitate the 134-year-old bridge while building a new bypass bridge for vehicular traffic. Interested parties gathered for a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, with Putnam County Commissioners Max Watts, Don Walton and David Berry gathering to cut the ribbon on the covered bridge, which will now serve pedestrians as part of a historic preservation site and park. Also gathered for the celebration on a windy autumn morning were Dick Harvey of George R. Harvey and Son construction, County Auditor Lorie Hallett and Scott Dick, Bonnie Money and Becki Wise of USI Consultants Inc. New County Bridge 625 now passes over Big Walnut with an excellent view of the historic bridge just a few feet to the south. While modern in its engineering, the new bridge was designed with timber approaches and guard rails as well as stone replica form liners on the substructure to complement the existing bridge and rural landscape. (Photos by JARED JERNAGAN)

With no worries of approaching vehicles, bridge enthusiasts and sightseers can now get an up-close look at the historic covered bridge (right), with its view of Big Walnut Creek, Bridge 625 and Boone-Hutcheson Cemetery to the northeast. (Photos by JARED JERNAGAN)
Comments
View 4 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • Former Commissioners G.Beck,K.Warren and J.Baird made this project possible. David Sutherlin was Highway Supervisor at that time.

    -- Posted by kubotafan on Sat, Oct 25, 2014, at 7:23 AM
  • It sure would be nice if the photographer would stand a lot closer so we could see their faces more easily. Would this be too much to ask for in the future??

    -- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Sat, Oct 25, 2014, at 2:50 PM
  • I do like the pics of the new bridge so traffic can stay off the covered bridge.

    -- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Sat, Oct 25, 2014, at 5:24 PM
  • I thought the story was about the bridge not the people on teh bridge. Thanks Gene and company.

    -- Posted by Hazel on Mon, Oct 27, 2014, at 6:36 AM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: