The Pyrite Mine Bridge, thought to be oldest in the region, undergoes repairs

PRINCE WILLIAM FOREST PARK — Two historic bridges are getting makeovers after the Federal Government’s partial shutdown.

Prince William Forest Park reopened like all the other National Parks after the Federal Government’s partial shutdown, but two historic, rotting bridges, The South Fork Timber Bridge on Scenic Drive and The Pyrite Mine Bridge, are both closed to the public while they undergo repairs and rehabilitation.

While the Pyrite Mine Bridge is completely closed to all pedestrians and bicyclists, the South Fork Timber Bridge still has some traffic going across it on the weekends. Cold weather has delayed the project, pushing back the completion date to later this month.

Until then, there are plenty of alternate routes that can be taken on foot or by vehicles.

The Pyrite Mine Bridge is closed for rehabilitation. It is not possible for hikers to cross it. Detour signs in place. Check at the visitor center for assistance in planning alternate routes. Our website contains great updates as well. https://t.co/izpVJylmjb pic.twitter.com/7oc9HOAn07

— Pr. Wm. Forest Park (@PWForestPark) January 31, 2019

According to the park’s website, the South Fork Timber Bridge is a historic landmark was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which built the park during the 1930s. The 30-foot bridge is one of over 200 structures that was built in the 1930s by the CCC as part of the Chopawamic Recreational Demonstration Area program.

This program built 46 parks in 24 states during the 1930s and 1940s. the goals were to develop land for parks near urban areas that could also be sources of employment during the Great Depression.

The South Fork Timber Bridge remains as one of the main routes across South Fork Quantico Creek for park visitors.

According to the park’s website, the Pyrite Mine Bridge predates the park and has been in use since its construction about  1889. The 50-foot bridge is the oldest bridge in the park and one of the oldest in the area. It is part of the Cabin Bridge Pyrite Mine Historical District that was an operational mining community beginning in 1889 and ended about 1920.

The Cabin Bridge property, including the Pyrite Mine Bridge, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

According to Chief Park Ranger Chris Alford, the combined total for the work on both bridges is $820,000. This price covers construction, design, compliance, and oversight. Most of the funding comes from Federal Highways Administration, Federal Lands Transportation Program funds, which supports transportation projects that provide public access to federally owned lands, such as Prince William Forest Park and other units of the National Park System.  

Work on the Pyrite Mine Bridge is ongoing. Recently, contractors used a crane to remove a piece of the bridge so it could be sent to the Kovilic Construction Company for rehabilitation. Kovilic Construction is a company in based Franklin Park, Ill. that has a smelting process that’s beneficial for repairs on older steel. The repair work on the bridge is scheduled to be finished by late April.