Maryland - The Maryland Department of Natural Resources was awarded a TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) SHA-Federal-Aid Grant to supplement funding to restore the Casselman River Bridge. These additional funds will help the Department to fulfill one of its mission statement objectives, which is to preserve the State’s historic resources.
This project will consist of the restoration and repair to the bridge structure, wall repairs, stone removal, and repair, repointing and pinning of the abutments/spandrels and barrel, epoxy injection of cracks in barrel stones, and repairs to a major portion of the roadway decking. The repairs are necessary to prevent failure of the bridge. The project's limit-of-disturbance (LOD) will be restricted to the area around the bridge and below the abutment slopes to prevent sediment and erosion into the stream. The picnic area will not be impacted by this project. However, access onto the bridge will be closed-off during construction so that the decking can be repaired.
Casselman River Bridge State Park is a 4-acre parcel, popular for picnicking, fly fishing and photography. When the 80-foot span was erected in 1813, it was the longest single-span stone arch bridge in the United States and served as an important link on the National Road from 1813 to 1933. Although the bridge no longer carries vehicular traffic, it is open to pedestrians and is accessible for disabled visitors.
