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Cornwall covered bridge back in action

Cornwall covered bridge back in action
The covered bridge in West Cornwall was damaged on Dec. 23. After a couple weeks of repair work and limited hours of operation, the bridge is fixed and things are back to normal. 
Photo by Riley Klein

CORNWALL — Repairs on the covered bridge in  West Cornwall have been completed and the Housatonic River crossing was fully reopened on  Tuesday, Jan. 17.

All but two of the 23 main trusses that support the bridge had to be completely replaced and 10 of the metal pockets which house the trusses required re-welding.

“Damage to the bridge was very extensive. Much more than had happened before,” said First Selectman Gordon Ridgway at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Jan. 17.

The estimated cost of repairs exceeded $100,000 but, as the covered bridge is state property, Cornwall was not hit with the bill.

“Protocol is for [the Department of Transportation] to go after the insurance for the people who caused damage to state property,” said Ridgway. “Standard practice is to try to recover the cost so the taxpayers do not have to pay for it.”

Ridgway has requested to meet with DOT officials to discuss the implementation of additional signage or steel guard rails to prevent future damage to the bridge.

Riley Klein

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