The Illinois Department of Transportation recently finished a year-long effort to restore the Little Mary’s River Covered Bridge; a wooden pedestrian-only structure located along Illinois 150 in Randolph County. The historic structure is scheduled to reopen on September 22.
[Above photo by Illinois DOT]
The agency said in a statement that the $312,000 project carefully balanced historic preservation with modern safety upgrades following a severe windstorm in early 2023 that damaged the bridge’s roof, among other items.
Originally built in 1854, the 86-foot-long bridge is one of the oldest remaining covered bridges in the state and is the only one in southern Illinois.
The bridge was acquired by the state of Illinois in the 1930s as a historic site and was fully renovated in 2005 and is listed on the Illinois Historic Sites Survey.
Illinois DOT said it partnered with restoration specialists and state engineers to preserve the bridge’s 19th-century character, using hand-hewn timbers and period-correct square nails – stressing that it conducted all of the restoration work in accordance with guidelines from the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office.
To enhance structural resilience while maintaining historical integrity, metal tie-down straps were installed to secure the roof timbers to the main trusses, improving resistance to future storms.
Other modern improvements include installation of upgraded fire suppression and video monitoring systems, both of which are currently undergoing final testing ahead of its reopening.
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