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U.S. 36 project causing trouble for Edna Collings Covered Bridge
CLINTON FALLS — While a number of local covered bridges have fallen victim to semi drivers and GPS mishaps over the years, one bridge in Clinton Township has a new enemy: A state-sponsored project on U.S. 36.
The state is replacing a bridge over Moccasin Branch just west of Union Chapel in Clinton Township with two box culverts.
While the official detour follows U.S. 231 north to State Road 236, then State Road 59 south to U.S. 36, there is also an “unofficial detour” agreed to by the county that follows County Road 600 West south to County Road 600 North then back north on County Road 775 West to 36
County Engineer Jim Peck and commissioners David Berry, Rick Woodall and Tom Helmer have had misgivings about this route since they signed an agreement back in February, as it follows narrow gravel roads that pass through even narrower culverts.
Those doubts have proven correct in the few weeks since the highway was closed, with motorists – including tractor-trailers – following a route that takes them through the Clinton Falls area, including across 102-year-old Edna Collings Covered Bridge.
The larger trucks have already damaged the bridge, breaking boards as they try to pass through the portal, not to mention far exceeding its posted weight limit of six tons.
In an attempt to stop these damaging and illegal crossings, the Putnam County Highway Department put out jumbo concrete barricade blocks to force vehicles to zig-zag, placing them too close together for tractor-trailers.
Peck reported at the most recent commissioners meeting, however, that someone had moved the blocks. The report actually came to the county from area farmer Ray Poynter Jr., who offered to move the barricade back in place. The county accepted Poynter’s offer.
The whole affair has left local officials frustrated with the state.
“We pointed out to them directly that day what a disaster it was going to be,” Berry said.
The work, which began last month, is set for a 30-day closure, but county officials are wary of the timeline as well.
As for the unofficial detour itself, Woodall noted the road is falling into disrepair with so many semis and tri-axles traveling on the gravel and over the culverts, with potholes and examples of people driving into ditches.
“It’s a one-lane gravel road, and you have hundreds of vehicles on it every day.”
Edna Collings is one of three covered bridges that will soon be seeing upgrades, as the commissioners approved a combined $190,000 in repairs and improvements to three of its nine historic covered bridges.
A new roof will be installed on Edna Collings Bridge for $50,692.94, while a new roof for Rolling Stone Bridge will come at a cost of $65,496.24 Houck Bridge, meanwhile, will have new purlins and siding installed at a cost of $73,830.42.
All three bids were awarded to Energy Conservation Solutions.
Edna Collings and Rolling Stone have had some issues with timber rot in recent years, which springs from leaky roofs. Houck, meanwhile, has had trouble with siding coming off ever since it was rehabilitated and bypassed 10 years ago.
The problem apparently springs from not enough purlins holding the siding in place. Peck noted that all of the siding will be replaced with rough-sawn, kiln-dried wood that will give a uniform look.
“At the end of the job, the whole bridge will be repainted so we don’t have a hodgepodge of colors there,” Peck said, noting that the contractor will hire Amish subcontractors to do the majority of the work. “This is kind of specialty work, so I was seeking a contractor who would be comfortable doing it.”
In other business, the commissioners:
• Appointed Mark Wood to the Putnam County Hospital Board.
Wood replaces Rob Mann, who resigned on June 30, on a term that expires Jan. 6, 2028.
• Approved exploring the option of relocating the Putnam County Health Department to the old Feld’s Carpet building at 1221 Bloomington St.
The county is looking for a different solution for the health department, as it has run out of room at its current location in the Putnam County Hospital Office Building.
One other proposed solution, a move to the old Fresenius Kidney Care building at 316 Medic Way, recently went away when the building sold to another bidder.
• Approved a three-year lease to purchase three new Chevrolet Silverados for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office at a cost of $151,000.
The lease is through North Salem State Bank, which offered a rate of 4.28 percent, lower than those offered by First National Bank and First Financial Bank.
The next meeting of the Putnam County Commissioners is set for 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 19.