National Society for the
Preservation of Covered Bridges

Oakalla Bridge
Putnam County, IN

The bridge has been closed due to “structural integrity issues”. All four arch ends are being replaced. Two of them had already failed and others were not in good condition. Some of the damage is thought to be the result of an overweight vehicle crossing, probably repeatedly. The strain has caused some unusual bending of the arches and damage to the vertical posts near the ends caused by excess force from the adjoining diagonal timbers.

Repairs to this span have begun. The work will include removal of the steel Bailey truss which had provided part of the structures support along with other repairs. The project was advertised in spring 2025 and is expected to be completed in Spring 2027.

On September 2, 2026, five years after the remnants of Hurricane Ida swept the bridge from its abutments, the long-awaited repair project was officially underway. The work will fix the bridge’s historic timber structure and place it on new abutments approximately 50 feet farther from the East Branch Perkiomen Creek to reduce the risk of future flood damage. The 1832 span will be several feet higher above the ground and secured with tie-down fixtures. Federal and state emergency-management agencies have awarded approximately $1.9 million to cover most of the project’s cost following a lengthy planning, engineering and historic-preservation review process. Timber framing work is expected to continue through the winter, depending on the availability of specialized lumber. Once the structural work is completed, a large crane will lift the bridge and place it on its new foundation. If all goes well, the work could be completed in the spring of 2027.

Indiana County Parks & Trails has secured $807,314 to restore and repair the bridge — one of only four Howe truss bridges remaining in Pennsylvania. The bridge was removed from its abutments and transported to Lancaster County Timber Frames of York, Pennsylvania for repairs. The reconstructed span was lifted by a crane and placed back on its abutments on October 27, 2026.  The project is expected to be complete by Thanksgiving.

DDesign of the repairs to this bridge are complete and the project is underway.  Construction is expected to be completed in 2027.

TThe bridge was moved off of its abutments in the summer of 2023 for repairs. Repairs were completed and the structure moved back into place in the summer of 2024. After a delay of over a year, the project got underway again on July 14, 2025. The work was finally completed during the summer of 2026.

The bridge was closed to traffic for safety reasons in May 2019. After 6 years, repair work is now underway. On July 29, 2026, the bridge was moved to the east bank of rivière du Diable to allow for construction of two new abutments 1.2 meters (4 feet) higher to reduce the effects of flooding and ice jams on the bridge. Repairs to the bridge are also underway while it is sitting in dry land. Work is expected to be completed sometime in 2027.

After being consumed by fire on September 10, 2016, plans have been in the works to construct a replica of the historic covered bridge. Due to federal budget cuts, the project has been delayed until 2031.

In the summer of 2024 the bridge was removed from ita abutments and dismantled.  The project to reconstruct it on new abutments is on hold indefinitely.

Bridge closed to all traffic and use. Rehabilitation of the bridge for use as a pedestrian and trail (snowmobile) crossing. Rehabilitation design by DuBois & King, Inc. Work to include repair to roof framing, trusses, floor framing, concrete abutments, and approach pathway.

On May 22, 2025, the Selectboard approved a contract with Vermont Heavy Timber of Huntington for repairs to the bridge which will include repairing structural damage to the Burr arches, bolster beams, bearing blocks and joists, as well as flashing and sheathing utilizing protective measures to prevent future damage.