This bridge was part of my family’ s heritage as my Grandfather was a Knowlton from Monroe County. Back in the early 1900’s he married a Foraker which her family built the Foraker bridge. My father has passed, but he was so proud of the fact that both of these bridges were built by his family...I am so very saddened that this happened. Since the county has definitely dropped the ball in not using money allocated to fix it up, I truly hope that this can be rebuilt.
Looks like a smartphone video actually caught the collapse of the bridge, which was around 6pm on the 5th. It's absolutely disgusting... this is a piece of local heritage that we who live around here can never get back.
Another casualty of neglect! I understand that the county had just received a grant to rehabilitate the bridge. I suspect if there is enough interest the money might be able to be used towards a rebuild. Some of the original wood might be salvageable, although I'm sure much of it was reduced to splinters. The approach spans likely remained standing because of the I-beams that were added to them.
It was the middle span that was lost, my guess is that is about long missing siding.
This bridge is apparently property of the monroe county commissioners and as such was listed on their insurance policy. One of the commissioners made a statement that a 1.2 million policy claim has already been filed...presumably to fund reconstruction. Hopefully what has been spoken concerning the bridge will come to fruition.