Mood Bridge Fire Alerts Haycock

 

Bucks County, PA, October 4, 2007 - The Town of Haycock, bordering the town of East Rockhill, is worried about the fragility of their Sheard Mill covered bridge (38-09-06).

The loss of East Rockhill's Mood Bridge (38-09-07) in 2004 has alerted the Haycockians to the vulnerability of their own covered bridge. The Town will ask Bucks County for funds to repair and fireproof Sheard Mill Bridge.

Haycock's supervisors voted October 1 to apply to the county, with neighboring East Rockhill, to get money for the Sheard's Mill bridge preservation work from the Federally funded community development block grant program, which is administered by the county. The two towns will work together on the project because the bridge is on their border.

The cost of repairing Sheard Mill bridge is estimated to be $75,000, including $11,299 for applying No-Char fire preventer.

Should the county grant the full amount requested, some work will not be covered - the replacement of the bridge floor and Roof, estimated to be $95,088, and $74,095 respectively. Town officials hope the state Department of Transportation, owner of the bridge, will fund the balance of the work if the municipalities start it.

The 130-foot Sheard Mill Bridge was built in 1873 to cross Tohickon Creek using a Town truss.