Clermont County, Ohio: Stonelick Covered Bridge

Posted March 7, 201213 yr

The Stonelick Covered Bridge is located on Stonelick-Williams Corner Road in rural Clermont County, Ohio and was constructed in 1878. The 140-foot Howe Truss is the last covered span in the county, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

In 2008, the Clermont County Engineer’s office applied to the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program and received a $360,000 federal grant, which required a $90,000 local match. The office then hired a covered bridge consultant who presented five preservation options. After public meetings, the Engineer’s office settled on a $1.1 million plan that would involve constructing a new bridge inside the historic span while preserving most of the old bridge. The new crossing would consist of arches constructed of glued laminated timber and would increase the bridge’s weight to 12 tons, enabling emergency vehicles and school buses to cross.

Some groups opposed the plans, stating that rehabilitation of the existing bridge would be $400,000 cheaper.

On May 22, 2010, an overweight truck crossed the covered bridge and caused extensive damage to the structure. The county engineer’s office, upon hearing reports from area residents that the floor beams were damaged, immediately closed the span. A truck driver, crossing with a 11-ton vehicle that was well in excess of the 3-ton limit, was later charged and the driver’s company settled with the county for over $10,000.

Rehabilitation work could start in the spring of 2012 and be complete by winter.