Turkey Run State Park to reopen suspension bridge

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

MARSHALL -- The suspension bridge at Turkey Run State Park, damaged by floodwaters in April, has been repaired and will reopen for public use on Friday.

During the April flood, Sugar Creek rose to within a foot of the bridge, causing an uprooted tree to become lodged in the structure.

The resulting damage led to a temporary closure of the bridge to replace stringer beams, suspension cable and hanger rods, and to fix the bridge's concrete support towers.

The 202-foot-long bridge was built in 1918, two years after Turkey Run became a state park.

The bridge crosses Sugar Creek and connects the developed area of the park with the park's northern section and popular hiking trails through the sandstone canyons and forested area of Rocky Hollow Falls Canyon Nature Preserve.

The hiking trails remained opened during the bridge repair project, but access to the north side of Sugar Creek added approximately 1.5 miles of hiking for visitors.

In June, the State Budget Committee approved $217,800 to fix the bridge.

The bridge will be closed for a few days in late November or December so additional work can be completed on an adjacent staircase.

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