A Mechanicsburg construction company has been put in charge of rehabilitating the historic covered bridge in Rock.
The Schuylkill County commissioners awarded the contract Wednesday at a public meeting to Deblin Inc.
County bridge no. 113, also known as the Rock Covered Bridge, is on Newswanger Road and runs over Little Swatara Creek in Washington Township. Built in 1870, it is only one of two covered bridges still standing in Schuylkill County.
Deblin Inc. submitted the lowest bid online through the state Department of Transportation's Engineering and Construction Management System. The contract is for $936,544.68 and the construction costs will be reimbursed by the federal National Historic Covered Bridge Grant through PennDOT.
The other bids were Clearwater Construction Inc., Mercer, $1,056,000 and J.D. Eckman Inc., Atglen, $1,777.282.85.
The Burr arch truss bridge is 50 feet 7 inches long with a clearance of 10 feet 6 inches. The Zimmerman Covered Bridge, also a Burr arch truss, is located just west of the Rock Covered Bridge and also runs over the Little Swatara Creek. Both bridges were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Rehabilitation on the Zimmerman Covered Bridge was completed in the late 1990s.
The Rock Covered Bridge has been restricted to 3-ton loads, which is the minimum weight capacity a bridge can have before being closed.
Larson Design Group, Williamsport, designed the repairs and the federal grant was for $1.1 million. The grant also covered the design work.
The board also approved the purchase of two digital mobile radios and four digital portable radios for the adult probation office to comply with the upgrades at the Schuylkill County Communications Center. The agreement is with Motorola Solutions Inc. through Green's Communications for $25,935. Offender supervision fees are paying for the purchase and it comes as no cost to the county.
The county is also seeking bids for storm water drainage improvements on East Phillips Street in Coaldale. The bids are due in the controller's office April 14 and will be opened April 16.
Stephen Smulley, Pottsville, was appointed as a corrections officer at the Schuylkill County Prison. He will start Monday with an hourly rate of $17.51.
In other action, the commissioners issued a proclamation declaring April as "Duck Month" in Schuylkill County. The proclamation was issued to promote Avenue's 26th annual Duck Race on April 27 on the banks of Mill Creek in front of Wal-Mart in Saint Clair. Thousands of rubber ducks will be available for adoption and all donations will benefit children and adults involved in the programs offered by Avenues.
"Avenues would not be the agency it is today without the support of the county," Pete Keitsock, executive director of Avenues, said.
The commissioners will hold a work session at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Hoffman Room. The following week, a public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. April 9 in the commissioners' board room. The retirement board meeting will immediately follow the public meeting.