Bridge work begins

Span to Harmar Village could re-open within weeks

By Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.com
The Historic Harmar Bridge could be reopened to pedestrian traffic in a matter of weeks, thanks to volunteers from a couple of local unions and material donations from area businesses.

“We’re setting up to have eight steel plates tacked to the structure so that welders can weld them in on Saturday,” Bill Hutchinson, with Ironworkers Local 787, said on Friday.

He said the Ironworkers, assisted by volunteers from Pipefitters Local 168, would be working on stabilization of the span for at least this weekend and the following weekend, depending on the weather.

Throughout the week, Hutchinson and crews have been installing “floats,” rope-supported wooden platforms that provide an area for the workers to stand while working beneath the bridge decking.

“All of the labor and materials have been donated by the unions and local businesses,” he said, noting that most of the material came from Pioneer Pipe and Leasco Equipment.

The work is great news for Barbara Hartel, who runs the Hartel Shipyard store on Maple Street, less than a block from the western end of the bridge in Harmar Village. Hers is one of several Harmar-area businesses that suffered a loss of customers after the bridge was closed to pedestrian traffic in September due to public safety concerns.

“We’re providing the workers with breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Hartel said of the Harmar businesses Friday. “I just sent over 12 fried bologna sandwiches and fries.”

She said foot traffic across the bridge is vital to the Harmar shops.

“When the Delta Queen was in on Thursday, the tourists were unable to come across,” Hartel said. “You can’t expect them to walk all the way to the Putnam Street Bridge and cross, then walk all the way back. But we’re trying to maintain a positive attitude.”

City Councilman Tom Vukovic, D-4th Ward, is glad to see the bridge stabilization being done.

“It’s good to see this finally coming together so the bridge can be opened for people to get to the west-side shops,” he said. “And it looks like we’re going to have it open in time for tourist season.”

Vukovic said he was overwhelmed by the generosity of the ironworkers and pipefitters.

“They’re giving up a lot of time with their families to work on this project,” he said. “This really shows the unions’ commitment to the city.”

Vukovic noted that the project’s main beneficiary would be the nonprofit Historic Harmar Bridge Company, owners of the span, who have worked with the city to reopen the bridge to foot traffic.

Mayor Michael Mullen said the bridge would reopen as soon as possible after engineers check the stabilization work and pronounce the span safe for pedestrians.

“It looks like it will be a couple of weeks, but it really depends on the final inspection and any weather issues we might encounter,” he said. “But we’ll be moving the project forward as fast as we can.

“This closing has been a real burden on both the Harmar and downtown merchants and citizens,” Mullen added. “This project has a true economic benefit for the city, and it’s an incredible volunteer effort that’s being done with professional quality.”

He explained that the certified ironworkers and pipefitters working on the span are the same workers who build bridges for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The mayor also noted that, because of the donated labor and materials, the estimated $80,000 project would cost next to nothing.

“Without the volunteers and donations, this would have been a great burden on the Harmar Bridge Company, with whom we’ve partnered to help reopen this bridge,” he said.

City development director Mike Stocky added that, although the city was turned down for an ODOT transportation enhancement grant to do a full renovation of the bridge this year, he would be reapplying for that funding again in 2009.

The complete renovation of the span has been estimated to cost around $1.7 million.