WATERFORD — It took some 19th century know-how to refurbish and reopen the Brotherton covered bridge in Waterford Township.
The bridge, built in 1875, opened to traffic last week after being disassembled, repaired and put back together again.
It will be officially reopened in ceremonies hosted by the township, Fort LeBoeuf Historical Society and WECAN Waterford on Friday.
Both 19th and 21st century technologies were used to dismantle the bridge, build new abutments, beams and decking, and reassemble the wooden structure.
“It basically was put together the same way that it was built almost 150 years ago,” said Marcus Cramer, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation engineer in charge of the project. “It’s good to know that we can still use 1875 technology today.”
And can still use 1875 tools.
“It was pretty neat to see hatchets used and sledgehammers used to drive in wooden dowel pins. I’ve never seen that before and may never see it again,” Cramer said.
Not all parts of the reassembled bridge are original. Some of the diagonals in the latticework truss construction and parts of the main beam had deteriorated beyond repair and were replaced with custom-made pieces.