MOUNT VERNON — Traffic was delayed Sunday as Dingey Movers Inc. of Zanesville hauled a bowstring truss bridge from Bladensburg to Mount Vernon. The estimated eight to six hours moving process the company thought it would take, only took about three hours to move it to and unload it at Foundation Park.
Dingey Movers began the process at 7:40 a.m. Moving at 10 mph, the company made the trip in good time and without any major problems, said Bart Dingey, spokesman for the company.
“We thought the first turn would take longer than it did, but we got lucky,” he said.
A major concern for the movers was the 90-degree turn from Jug Run Road to Ohio 541, but the turn only took about 10 minutes to conquer.
Along the way, walkie-talkies and hand signals were used by members of the team to communicate any possible obstacles and directions for the hauling truck.
“We had to remove a couple of signs on 586 to Parrott Street, but that was about it,” said Dingey. “The Ohio State Highway Patrol was a very big help in moving the bridge.”
Two state patrol cars led the team of movers, traveling ahead to stop oncoming traffic. The 14-foot-wide bridge took up both lanes of the road, forcing other traffic to move to the side or turn onto other roads.
Dingey Movers has been moving buildings, bridges, houses and other large structures for over 25 years.
“My grandfather started the business in 1946. I am the fourth generation of movers,” said Dingey.
The movers are returning today, and the next couple of days, to take the bridge off of the hauling bed and set it on timber blocks.
For about three years the city has been discussing and planning possible solutions for moving the bridge. The bridge was closed when Mayor Richard Mavis was county commissioner; only now has the city been able to do anything with it, explained Dave Glass, Mount Vernon safety-service director.
“Originally, we thought about cutting the bridge an half, but after we contacted Dingey Movers — it was easier than I thought,” he said.
The bridge is an important piece of history. It was was built by Phoenix Iron Co. of Phoenixville, Pa., which is the brand stamped on the side of the bridge. Although the exact date of when the structure was built is unknown, a possible date of June 17, 1852, is also branded on the side of the bridge. Glass explained the date could be the patent date for the bowstring bridge.
“I think the county has the date archived of when it was put in place,” said Mavis, adding that he hopes the records will also state the date it was built. “Hopefully, by its dedication, we will have a plaque with the exact date. We are looking forward to finding out when it was built.
“We were looking at cutting it then putting it back together, but this worked out much better,” he said.
Mavis said Dingey Movers will be used again next year, when the bridge will be moved to its final location on the peninsula of the lake. As of now, the bridge is located on park grounds so that renovation, including painting, replacing parts and cleaning the structure, can take place.
“A temporary fence will be placed all the way around it,” said Glass.
Even though the bridge will be secured, signs will be warranted for safety precautions around the structure.
The fact that the city is preserving an unusual 1800s structure for future generations is very important to the city, Mavis said, and the bridge will be a unique part of the parks and trails system for the community to enjoy.
