Hutchins Covered Bridge Reconstruction: 2009
[WGN 45-06-07]
Hutchins Bridge Reconstruction Index
- Hutchins Bridge Engineering Study
- Hutchins Bridge: January 2009
- Hutchins Bridge Progress: April 2009
- Hutchins Bridge Progress: June 2009
- Hutchins Bridge Progress: July 2009
- Hutchins Bridge Progress: August 2009
- Hutchins Bridge Progress: September 2009
- Hutchins Bridge Progress: October 2009
- Hutchins Bridge Completed: October 29, 2009
- Hutchins Bridge: A Short History
The Hutchins Covered Bridge: January 2009
The project began November 2008 and has a completion date of October 30, 2009. The winning bid was $1,085,869.93 made by Alpine Construction of of Schylerville, New York. The bid includes the temporary bridge (see the Engineering Study).
January 2009
The Hutchins Covered Bridge in January, quiet and very cold. Unseen under the snow, the abutments for the planned bypass Baily Bridge are ready when work begins in the spring.
January 2009
A view of the interior through the east portal
The Hutchins Covered Bridge Update: April 2009
The current activity is preparing the site for work on the bridge superstructure (everything above the abutments).
April 2009
View of south portal
April 2009
A concrete form is being built by the west abutment like the one to the right. These will serve as supports for the scaffolding that will suspend the bridge while the trusses are worked on. These pads will be removed when the reconstruction is complete.
April 2009
A view of the south, or upstream side of the bridge. Notice the horizontal siding. I suspect this was installed to protect the siding against ice and flotsam when the South Branch of the Trout River is in flood.
April 2009
A view of the north side of the bridge. There is no horizontal siding on this, the downstream side. Notice the stone work in the left foreground, part of the remains of the mill once active here.
The Hutchins Covered Bridge Update: June 2009
June 3 - The concrete work is complete, our temporary steel structure has been installed underneath the covered bridge and now supports it. The Mabey bridge (similar to a Baily bridge) was launched into place beside it a few weeks ago and the detour is open to traffic. We are the traffic because there is only one seasonal home on the other side of the bridge.
Cable x-bracing was installed inside:
- to take the 8-inch rack out of the east end
- and to hold it in check while we reconstruct it
The old siding which was dryrotted and unsalvagable has been removed. The green steel beams are gone, as is the old deck. We'll be lifting the old girl a little over a foot for our own access in order to reach the future curb nuts underneath.
In your photos of the upstream side, notice a few of the remaining horizontal timbers sticking out perpendicular to the bridge. These were bolted through the lower chords with old rods, ogee washers, and square nuts which went to the local historical society. I was told they supported an exterior walkway and that there are pics around that show it. I haven't seen the pics, but will send them if I run across them.
Thanks for detailing our progress on the reconstruction.
Jim Ligon
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 3, 2009
Hutchins Bridge east portal and the Mabey bridge.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 3, 2009
Rotted east end-post and chordend at east end of the south truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 3, 2009
Rotted end-post and choerd end at the east end of the north truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 3, 2009
Cable x-bracing is installed inside to take the 8-inch rack out of the east end of the bridge.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 3, 2009
Rotted secondary upper chord in the south truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 3, 2009
Rotted upper chords near the middle of the south truss, the price of not maintaining the roofing.
The Hutchins Covered Bridge Update: July 2009
July 5th progress:
Photo by Joe Nelson
July 5, 2009
West Portal
Photo by Joe Nelson
July 5, 2009
Detail - Rotted Upper Chords, South, or Upstream Truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
July 5, 2009
Detail - Rotted Upper Chords, South, or Upstream Truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
July 5, 2009
Lower Chord Repair - South Chord, East End.
Photo by Joe Nelson
July 5, 2009
Upper Chord Repair, Interior View, South Chord.
Photo by Joe Nelson
July 5, 2009
Abutment Detail, Under West Portal.
Photo by Joe Nelson
July 5, 2009
Rotted Upper Chords, South, or Upstream Truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
July 5, 2009
Lower Chord Repair - Nouth Chord, East End.
Photo by Joe Nelson
July 5, 2009
Lattice member replacemenr - North Truss
Photo by Joe Nelson
July 5, 2009
View through the Bridge from the East.
The Hutchins Covered Bridge Update: August 2009
August 13 - Work on the Hutchins Bridge truss's is mostly complete except for the upper chords, which await a shipment of "trunnels." The abutment facewalls have been cast and cured while the forms and re-bar for the back and wingwalls are being readied at both portals.
Photo by Joe Nelson
August 13, 2009
Hutchins Bridge East Portal. The Jewett Brothers signature end-posts are shown here. The post on the left has been replaced due to extensive rot. The original fabric of the post on the right has been kept, the rotted lower half replaced by splicing. The end posts at the west end of the trusses have been repaired in a like manner.
Photo by Joe Nelson
August 13, 2009
Abutment and lower chord repair detail at east portal.
Photo by Joe Nelson
August 13, 2009
Completion of repairs to rotted upper chords on the upstream truss wait for a shipment of trunnels.
Photo by Joe Nelson
August 13, 2009
A view of another section of rotted upper chords on the south truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
August 13, 2009
A view of the upper chords at the west end of the upstream truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
August 13, 2009
West portal view showing the forms for back and wing-walls under construction.
The Hutchins Covered Bridge Update: September 2009
September 14:
Photo by Joe Nelson
September 14, 2009
West end view of the replaced outside members of the upper chords of the south, or upstream truss. Note the original fabric at the west end and center of the span.
Photo by Joe Nelson
September 14, 2009
East end view of the replaced outside member of the upper chords of the south, or upstream truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
September 14, 2009
Detail view of replaced upper chords on the south truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
September 14, 2009
Detail view of the replaced upper chord at the west end of the south truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
September 14, 2009
A view of the west portal. The backwall and wingwalls are cast, cured, and backfilled. Note the replaced north side end post and the repaired south side end post. That is a new bolster beam in the right foreground.
Photo by Joe Nelson
September 14, 2009
Interior view from the west end.
Photo by Joe Nelson
September 14, 2009
Inside view of the south truss upper chords. Note that only the outside members of the upper chords required replacement. The interior members remain as original fabric.
Photo by Joe Nelson
September 14, 2009
Outside view of repairs to the south truss from the east end.
Photo by Joe Nelson
September 14, 2009
East portal backwall and wingwalls cast and cured.
Photo by Joe Nelson
September 14, 2009
View of the north truss. Photographing the ongoing work on this side of the bridge is difficult due to the scaffolding, terrain, and thick vegetation.
The Hutchins Covered Bridge Update: October 2009
October 5, 2009 - The work site is a very busy place today as preparations begin to send away the heavy equipment. The temporary bridge has been removed from the site and the abutments prepared for it taken down or covered. The work on the bridge superstructure nears completion.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 5, 2009
The sheathing on the east portal is nearly complete.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 5, 2009
The sheathing is complete on the north, or downstream side of the bridge. The nailers are in place for the sheathing of the west portal.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 5, 2009
A "through-the-bridge view" from the west portal. Note the new barrier timbers installed to protect the trusses from vehicles. The new flooring is laid with quarter-inch gaps between planks.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 5, 2009
Inside view of the south, or upstream truss. Much of the original fabric is retained (the dark timber).
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 5, 2009
Inside view of the north, or downstream truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 5, 2009
View of the upstream side from the east approach. The temporary bridge is removed giving a clear view of the bridge.
October 12, 2009 - Things are really coming together at the work site this Monday morning. The sheathing has been completed and the portals have been prepped for the white paint characterizing all of Montgomery's Jewett Brother bridges.
Meanwhile work goes on clearing the site of construction material and equipment.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 12, 2009
The east portal sheathing has received its undercoat. The final coat will be white, as are all of Montgomery's Jewett bridges.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 12, 2009
A veiw of the south side. The concrete pilings in the stream bed are temporary, cast there to support the steel scaffolding used in the renovation.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 12, 2009
West portal sheathing is complete and has received the first coat of base paint.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 12, 2009
A view of the north, or downstream side, of the west abutments and east bedding timber.
Hutchins Bridge Finished
October 29, 2009 - It's Thursday, cloudy and threatening rain, the final day of the project. The last of the heavy equipment is moving out after completing the installation of new guard rails, leaving Alpine people to smooth the ground around the new posts.
Now, the newly renovated bridge stands clean behind park-like landscaping, ready for the first passage of the visiting public — myself.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 29, 2009
The signs are back over the east portal - "Hutchins 1883" - and "Lattice Type Bridge Built by the Jewett Bros."
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 29, 2009
Upstream view.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 29, 2009
Downstream view.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 29, 2009
A veiw of the west portal.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 29, 2009
Maestro Jim Ligon of Alpine Construction. With this job finished he will soon be starting the work in Williamsville.
Photo by Joe Nelson
October 29, 2009
Ready for final inspection.
