A $1.25 million rehabilitation project is moving forward on Princeton’s Red Covered Bridge in Bureau County, Illinois, following extensive damage from a truck strike in 2023.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) selected Freeport-based Helm Construction through a July 31 project letting. A preconstruction meeting was held Sept. 21 to review the work and project conditions at the historic structure.
Construction is expected to begin by the end of October, weather permitting. Materials, including wood sourced from nearby Dixon, are being procured ahead of the work.
The first phase will focus on repairs needed to restore the bridge for local traffic. Planned work includes replacing the roof and roof cross bracing, damaged bracing rods, floor beams and siding.
The project also calls for replacing existing height-restriction signs with higher-visibility signage. Some signs will include flashing beacons to provide additional warnings to drivers approaching the bridge.
Once this phase is complete, the bridge is expected to reopen to local traffic before additional work resumes in 2027.
The second phase is scheduled to include several upgrades designed to improve the bridge's protection and operating systems. Work will include a fire-resistant interior coating, exterior painting, pump house repairs and replacement of existing lighting and wiring.
The project also includes upgrades to fire suppression piping and security cameras. A vehicle-height detection system will be installed ahead of the bridge to warn drivers of vehicles exceeding the structure's 10-foot, 11-inch clearance.
IDOT will maintain the bridge warning signs and the vehicle-height detection system, while Dover Township remains responsible for the road.
Built in 1863, the Red Covered Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is protected under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Those designations require rehabilitation work to meet preservation standards and undergo additional review.
The bridge has experienced multiple threats over its history, including fires, erosion, high winds and repeated impacts from large trucks. When open, it carries an average of about 275 vehicles per day and remains a regional landmark that attracts visitors and serves as a backdrop for community events.
All project work is expected to be completed by June 2027.
The rehabilitation combines structural repairs with modern safety systems while preserving a historic transportation asset. The phased approach will allow the bridge to return to local traffic after the initial repairs while additional preservation and safety improvements are completed in 2027.
Source: Helm.
