The Jackson Covered Bridge over Sugar Creek is being rehabilitated. Work on the $1.4 million Federal Aid project is nearly complete. The project included the removal of the roof and siding. The bridge frame was moved off of the abutments for the rehabilitation. The bridge was removed from the abutments in February 2007. The bridge was put back on the abutments in August 2007. The purpose of this website is to track the progress of the bridge rehabilitation.

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August 2007
August 9th
	August 9th  The workers are trying to get as much done as possible before the bridge is moved back over Sugar Creek.  The goal is to have the rafters and the bottom rows of shingles installed while the bridge is on the road.  The workers also trying to install as many siding supports as possible.  Both of these jobs will go slower if the work has to be completed while the bridge is over the creek.
	August 9th  Architectural shingles are being installed.  The style was selected by the county commissioners.  They were also approved by the state agency.
	August 9th  The vertical cross supports have been installed in the Jackson Covered Bridge.  The vertical cross supports are unique to the Jackson Covered Bridge.
	August 9th  The temporary bridge has been constructed by the bridge movers.  The move is scheduled for August 15th or 16th.
	August 9th  New abutments have been installed on the south approach to the bridge.  The north abutments cannot be installed until after the bridge is moved.
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August 15th
	August 15th  The Jackson Covered Bridge was scheduled to move on August 15th or 16th.  On August 15th the decision was made to move the bridge on August 16th.  These pictures were taken in the morning before all of the dollies had been installed.   Later in the day the final dollies were installed and the bridge was moved closer to the creek.
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August 16th
	August 16th  The Jackson Covered Bridge was placed on dollies and pulled onto the temporary bridge over Sugar Creek.  The actual move started around 9:15 am and completed around 11:00 am.
	August 16th  The bridge builders were installing more siding nailers before the bridge was moved.
	August 16th  A winch truck (red truck in background) was placed on the south side of the Sugar Creek.  Cables from the winch were connected to the dollies supporting the bridge.
	August 16th  The final supports were placed on the temporary bridge before the move started.
	August 16th  The bridge was slowly winched into place.  The next two pictures were taken 3 minutes apart.
	August 16th  The first dolly goes onto the temporary bridge.
	August 16th  Workers closely watched the height of each dolly as the bridge was moved.
	August 16th  The bridge is moved halfway onto the temporary bridge.
	August 16th  The rear set of dollies comes onto the temporary bridge.
	August 16th  The bridge was positioned at the south abutments.
	August 16th  The north end of the bridge is positioned where the north abutment will be built.
	August 16th  As soon as the bridge was in place the workers begin building supports so the dollies could be removed.  The bridge will rest on the temporary bridge until the abutments are able to support the bridge.
	August 16th  The Jackson Covered Bridge is back in its home among the trees.
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August 22nd
	August 22nd  The Jackson Covered Bridge is sitting on the temporary bridge over Sugar Creek. The workers are working on the south approach.
	August 22nd  The north end of the bridge is completely on pallets. The workers are building the abutments by pouring cement and resetting the stones.
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September 2007
September 3rd
	September 3rd  The work continues on the north abutments. Forms have been set and concrete has been poured.
	September 3rd  The arches are being completed on the south abutment.
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September 13th
	September 13th  Multiple crews are now working on the Jackson Covered Bridge, trying to get it opened before the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. The roof crew has completed the new roof. The siding crew has started siding the east side. Major work is still being done on the north abutment. The first picture was taken from the south end and shows a pile of prepainted siding waiting to be applied.
	September 13th  The siding has started to be applied to the east side of the bridge.
	September 13th  Work still continues on the north abutment. A hole has been dug, so footers can be poured.
	September 13th  The nailers have been applied to the west side of the bridge. The crew will move to the west side as soon as the east side is completed.
	September 13th  The cross supports on the roof of the bridge are being installed. The flooring is also being bolted into place.
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September 27th
	September 27th  The Jackson Bridge is starting to look like the old Jackson Bridge. Most of the siding has been installed. The window openings have also been installed. The north abutment still has significant work remaining. The dog house of the bridge also needs to be constructed.
	September 27th  The west side of the bridge is nearly sided.
	September 27th  The east side of the bridge has been sided except for the doghouse.
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October 2007
October 9th
	October 9th  On October 9th the Jackson Covered Bridge was opened to traffice. The bridge made the goal of being opened before the start of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. Some small tasks still remain (such as lettering the north end of the bridge). The bridge looks great and was quiet as cars were driving across the bridge.
	October 9th  The lettering has been completed on the south end of the bridge.
	October 9th  The following picture was taken from the creek on the east side of the bridge.
	October 9th  The following pictures were taken from the west side of the bridge.
	October 9th  The following pictures show the north end of the bridge.
	October 9th  The following pictures show some of the architectural features of the bridge.
October 10th
	October 10th  The official ribbon cutting for the Jackson Covered Bridge was held on October 10th. The ribbon was cut by County Commissioner Greg Harbison, County Commissioner Jim Meece, and County Highway Superintendent Randy Norman. Thanks to Ron Branson for the picture. Ron Branson is the webmaster for the Indiana Covered Bridge Society website - www.indianacrossings.org.
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