Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. CONSOR Engineers confirmed that this iconic landmark of Marietta has stood the test of time and its piers are structurally sound.

  • No. CONSOR Engineers confirmed that there is not a quick fix to secure the safety of pedestrians across the Historic Harmar Bridge. The metalwork has suffered multiple areas of 50-100% section loss.

  • Continuing to match State and Regional Investment in HHBC through review of the CONSOR report for research, planning and development.

    •Development of governance structures and partnerships with regional agencies and funders.

    •Research and development of a decision matrix.

    •Pursuit of planning and development grants.

    •Development of an action plan to implement the multi-year endeavor.

  • A decision matrix is a tool to weigh all factors impacting the successful outcome of a multi-year engineering endeavor.

    Factors can include:

    •Cost

    •ADA Accessibility

    •Health, Nutrition, Education and Job Security Accessibility

    •Multimodal and Intermodal Planning

    •Environmental Protection

    •Historic Preservation Requirements

    •Aesthetic design preferences

    •Navigable waterway jurisdiction

    •Timing of available grants

  • CONSOR Engineers identified the following immediate needs for the bridge to enable renovation, refurbishment and/or replacement:

    Read the full report here.

    All Truss Spans

    • Replace all lower lateral gusset plates within Truss Spans 1 – 4. The current lateral gusset plates have significant section loss and debris accumulation which is leading to accelerated corrosion and section loss of the gusset plates, lateral bracing connections and the lower components of the lower chord.

    • Design and install repair plates along the lower chords at all panel points where 100% section loss was noted. This section loss typically consists of large holes located along the inboard and outboard channels of the lower chord over the lower lateral bracing gusset plates. These large areas of 100% section loss may result in instability of the trusses.

    Span 1

    • Replace the lower chord components due to severe section loss and deterioration. The lower chord horizontal legs and lacing bars within these chord components have 100% section loss.

    Spans 1 – 3

    • Repair the stringer end supports and brackets that have typical 100% section loss in the base of the support beam web up to 6" high.

    • Repair the cross-bracing connection at both support beams that have up to 50% loss of the connection gusset.

    Spans 2 – 4

    • Replace the broken, free hanging, and deteriorated diagonal counters noted within both the upstream and downstream trusses.

    Span 4

    • Provide a locking mechanism at both ends of Span 4.

    • Provide additional shim plates and/or install new support pedestals at both ends of the truss span when in the closed position. Currently, both ends of the truss span float over the steel pedestals.

  • We are still working to identify that cost range, finalizing our decision matrix and an action plan will help. Past discussions surrounded untenable estimates without a full understanding of the scope this endeavor. We now know that no single grant or agency can save the bridge alone, so, we are working to stack multiple partnerships and funding streams to accomplish this monumental, multi-year task.

    With the professional guidance of both CONSOR Engineers and our county/regional advisors, we are pursuing partnership and support from multiple agencies including:

    •Outdoor Recreational Council of Appalachia

    •Southeast Ohio Port Authority

    •Wood - Washington - Wirt Interstate Planning Commission

    •Ohio Department of Transportation

    •Marietta-Belpre Health Department

    •Washington County Health Department

    •Ohio Department of Health

    •U.S. Department of Transportation

  • Harmar Days Festival Inquiries: harmardaysfestival@gmail.com

    All other questions: harmarbridgeco@gmail.com

    Mailing Address: 222 Gilman Ave Marietta, Ohio 45750