Haverhill, Bath Accept Covered Bridge Bid

 

Haverhill, NH, November 28, 2006 - "The Haverhill-Bath Covered Bridge rehabilitation is now officially moving forward with approvals from the Towns of Bath and Haverhill," emails Project Manager Sean James of Hoyle- Tanner Associates of Manchester, NH. "Wright Construction is the contractor for the project and originally bid $1.18M for the project. We have been negotiating to meet the Towns budget for the project and should have a signed contract soon. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2007."

The Bath-Haverhill Covered Bridge, WGN 29-05-04, will be restored for pedestrian use.

After discussion about the project at the October 30 joint meeting of the Haverhill and Bath boards of selectmen, the boards voted to approve the sole bid from Wright Construction, provided that the price of any change orders would be locked in for any further work, including decking.

Officials from both towns are hoping area lumber companies will donate lumber for both the siding and decking. If those donations are realized, the bridge also could see its decking replaced. For now, the roof will remain the same. Some board members were concerned about not approving the option that included replacing the decking and the roof. But that option would have left the towns with about $19,078 shortfall.

With the approval of the base bid, construction could start as early as November. It is estimated the bridge work will take about eight months to complete. The rehabilitation is being paid for with federal and state assistance, coupled with money raised by the Bath- Haverhill bridge committee.

The 256-foot Bath- Haverhill Bridge was built in 1829 at a cost of $2,400 divided between the two towns. The bridge crosses the Ammonoosuc River in two spans using the Town Truss with arches.