Volunteers Crank Historic Ohio Bridge Back to Life

When the Historic Harmar Bridge needed to swing open for inspection Tuesday morning, engineers didn't flip a switch. They called on their neighbors to help crank it by hand.

About a dozen volunteers gathered in downtown Marietta, Ohio to manually turn the bridge's massive gear system, a task that took three times as many people as it would have when the structure was new. The effort allowed inspectors to examine the aging mechanical components up close and determine what's needed to restore this local landmark.

"Back in the day, when that was new and working properly, you likely would have been able to turn that bridge with four people," said Geoff Schenkel, development director for the city of Marietta. "But now, because it's aged, things are kind of grinding, so it takes more like 12 people to make that go."

The two-day inspection marked a crucial milestone in efforts to reopen the bridge as a pedestrian connection between Marietta and Harmar Village. Engineers from American Structurepoint examined the swing span from multiple angles, including underneath, watching how the gears meshed as volunteers cranked.

Natalie Bradley, executive director of the Historic Harmar Bridge Company, said the inspection gives the community a clear path forward. "What this means is we know how to move responsibly," Bradley said. "We can move on to the next step, whatever that means, whatever that looks like."

The inspection was funded through federal planning grants totaling roughly $2 million, including support from the Ohio Department of Transportation and other state programs. The Historic Harmar Bridge Company matched a portion of the funding, and multiple government partners collaborated on grant applications and project coordination.

The Ripple Effect

The bridge restoration represents more than fixing old machinery. For years, the closed bridge has divided the community, forcing residents to take longer routes to visit neighbors just across the water.

"Our main goal is to connect east with west," Bradley said. "It just means connection, community and making it passable." When complete, the pedestrian bridge will create a direct link between two parts of town that have been separated for too long.

The hands-on inspection also brought the community together in an unexpected way. Volunteers working side by side with engineers demonstrated the collaborative spirit needed to revive shared spaces that belong to everyone.

With inspection results in hand, officials say they're one step closer to construction and reopening a bridge that will once again bring their community together.