Upcoming Inspections Bring Hope

03/23/2025

For Immediate Release:

The Historic Harmar Bridge Company is excited to announce an important step in its mission to restore a pedestrian pathway between Marietta and the historic Harmar village. 

The Harmar Bridge will be undergoing an in-depth and multi-faceted inspection by American Structurepoint, Inc. and its subconsultants beginning on March 23rd and continuing on the 24th. Citizens will notice the inspectors interacting with various parts of the bridge over these two days and may watch from a distance the turning of Span 4 (the swing span) between 11:00am and 12:00pm on March 24 while inspectors focus on the historic gearing that turns the span. 

As part of a multi-layered project, Span 4 (the swing span) and the east approach are funded for full rehabilitation through a separate grant, with design occurring in 2027 based primarily on the inspection recommendations. 

The bridge inspection is part of a joint venture, funded via an ongoing federal planning grant project, involving Washington County, the City of Marietta, and Marietta College. The inspectors will create a separate report to determine the final disposition of the remaining stationary spans 1-3. This bridge inspection report will serve as the guiding document for future project plan development involving these spans of the bridge.  

While seeking grant funding and grant matching are important parts of the mission of the Historic Harmar Bridge Company, the project will continue to rely heavily on fundraising over the next several years. Please visit our website at historicharmarbridge.com for updates and opportunities to learn more and support the cause. 

Grants Details

PID 118504 Cross Marietta - Federal Planning Grant, 100% grant funded requiring no local match required  -  Utilized to fund the bridge inspection

PID 124797 Harmar Bridge Shared Use Path Phase 1 - ODOT Transportation Alternative Project (TAP) - 95% grant funding with 5% Historic Harmar Bridge Company local match required, Total Federal Grant: $1.2 million with HHBC local match required: $64,684  -  This will be utilized to fund design and rehabilitation of Span 4 (swing span) and the east approach

Additional Information:

The turn span of the bridge will be turned at approximately 11:00 AM on the morning of Tuesday, March 24. While past turnings have involved turning the bridge parallel to the river bank, the primary purpose of turning the bridge this time is for the benefit of the inspectors and therefore we are uncertain to what extent they will want to see the mechanical system function.

Quote from Executive Director of the HHBC, Natalie Bradley:

"While an inspection may not seem terribly exciting, I and the board of directors are incredibly excited about what this critical step means for the future of our beloved bridge. It is a sign of forward movement and we hope the community sees this as well. Getting this old bridge reopened is a marathon, not a sprint, and we are determined to reach our goal."