Spellacy Bridge over the Mohican River

Collaborative, nationally recognized project replaces deteriorating structure with a scenic covered bridge, enhancing recreational access and community pride 

*2024 Engineering News-Record (ENR) National Best in Class Project of the Year

The Mohican River and Wally Road Scenic Byway are economic drivers of the Holmes County region, attracting residents and visitors to camping, canoeing, and other eco-tourism activities. The Wally Road Bridge was a critical connector along County Road 23, but the four-span steel beam and truss structure was deteriorating, limited to one lane, and needed replacement. A creative approach to the project would not only replace the bridge but also support a regional effort to improve connectivity and opportunity within the Mohican River Valley. 

The solution created the two-span, timber Spellacy Bridge, one of the nation’s largest covered bridges and Holmes County’s biggest infrastructure project to date.

The timeline was paramount. The county set a goal to open the bridge 365 days after notice to proceed. Meeting that date required overcoming challenges with a spirit of partnership among the County, Ohio Department of Transportation, OHM Advisors, the contractor, and the entire team. 

The project took place during a time of market volatility, labor shortages, and material limitations, and the initial bids exceeded the estimate. OHM Advisors’ constructability and value engineering reviews helped the County save over $1 million and increased the bidder pool for the rebid. OHM Advisors and Holmes County awarded the rebid on the same day, locking in materials and schedules while committing to fast-track the approvals with fabricators. In addition to navigating market volatility, the team tackled the inherent complexities of river construction and the physical properties of timber. Heavy winter rain and snow and the discovery of historical abutments during excavation posed additional challenges. OHM Advisors helped the team address field issues and provided guidance for needed adjustments, all while supporting compliance for the $9.5 million federal- and state-funded project. 

As a result of the team’s strong partnership, the bridge opened four days ahead of schedule, just in time for Labor Day weekend and peak color season in Ohio. While the primary concern was having a functional bridge that could accommodate regional traffic and large vehicles like trucks and RVs, the county also wanted to create a source of community pride for years to come. The result achieves that goal, introducing a picturesque landmark to the Mohican Greenway Corridor and Wally Road Scenic Byway.