Delhi, NY - Fitches Bridge Restoration Nears Completion.

Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001 - Hi Everyone! I thought you might enjoy seeing some new photos on the progress made on the Fitches Covered Bridge - NY-13-02. These were taken on October 28th.
      Doesn't it look fantastic? As you will see, windows were added, as in the Hamden Covered Bridge, to allow for kids to fish and hopefully less destruction to the bridge.
      Trish Kane

Delhi, NY - Fitches Bridge Restoration Underway.

Thursday, 13 Sep 2001 - The Bridge Stands on its Own
Hi Joe: The column supports from the steel frame are released and the bridge is now setting on its own, albeit on temporary blocks. Note the missing rafters over the steel column bent that has to be retrieved up through the structure.
      The end view with frames shows a close up of the support system and the rebuilt ends of the trusses.
      The photo of the upper framing shows the strong bracing system, and authentic use of pegs and traditional wedges with upper laterals.
      The last photo is of the jacking operation, depicting the single hydraulic jack used at each corner to raise the bridge. Not a sound of distress from the bridge during the operation. --Phil

Sunday, 10 Jun 2001 - Hi Joe - thought it was time for a brief update on Fitch's Bridge.

I have attached three photos that offer a representation of our status. The first depicts the removal of the corners of the existing abutments to accommodate the slightly longer trusses when rebuilt (recall that we are restoring the trusses to their original length and eliminating the significant weakness introduced by their shortening in the way it was done).

The second photo shows a fascinating home chewed out of a pair of top chord members in a way such we did not know it existed until we removed the outside stick to replace an inside stick for other reasons. We're not sure just what critter made this home, but it was extensive and effectively removed the entire pair of chord sticks from any assistance with supporting axial compression in the bridge. The redundant nature of the Town Lattice bridge was a saving grace to enable the bridge to remain standing.

The third photo shows the flared arrangement of the bottom chords when the bridge was moved to this site and the results of some pretty bad rot. The flaring will be replaced with conventional parallel lattice members to the end of the rehabilitated structure. Note also that the older work caused the truss to be supported by both upper and lower bottom chords over a short length.

We have identified the lattice members that have to be replaced due primarily to deterioration in the lower bottom chord connections (I have just taken a bunch of photos of these conditions and will forward on later). Due to the surprise with the critter home in the top chord, we will separate all of the top chord pairs looking for other surprises.
        We have the first and large load of timber on hand, but have had to order twice more for the new surprises. We will be focusing on repair of the upstream truss first in its entirety while we await delivery of the remaining timbers which will allow us to finish both trusses.
        Due to major powder post beetle damage in the trunnels, we have ordered replacements for all of them. We are using glue-lam floor beams that should be delivered shortly. Slow going what with all of the other project interruptions ongoing around the County. We are still on target for completion by the fall.
        As always, I'm here to respond to queries - I would much prefer to answer questions, rather than have questions go unanswered or be the subject of speculation. Thanks, Phil Pierce

Monday, 11 Jun 2001 - Joe - three more photos to add to the last.

This photo of the abutment work is a better overall shot of work at one end of the bridge with the two corners formed for new concrete.

This close-up of a section of bottom chord lattice shows some of the deterioration we found behind the chords. This was obviously hidden from view at first. It also clearly depicts the problems with lattice connections at times - these holes can't do their job.

This side view from Route18 provides a view of the trusses supported by the falsework with work platforms in place. The trusses are nearly stripped of all bad material, with the exception of some of the lattice members that are still in place.

As of today, the guys installed the first new members in the old truss. The rebuilding is now underway. Phil

Wed, 21 Feb 2001

Fitches Bridge, Delhi, NY - So we're off and running with the rehabilitation of the Fitches Covered Bridge. We have removed a couple of patches of the roof and floor to allow the placement of steel piles down through the structure to help support an internal steel support frame. Two main beams have been installed in the "belly" of the bridge and rest on columns in the approach embankment at each end of the bridge and on the center pile "bent". (I was unwilling to have us buy two extremely heavy and long steel beams in an attempt to avoid the center bent - that would have been very expensive just for this purpose - the "two-span" temporary structure serves just as well and used scrap material that we already owned.) The main beams are connected with bracing and cables for stability. They support a pair of transverse steel box beams (old pieces of box beam guide railing) at about 12 foot spacing.