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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — For years, the iconic, arched foot-bridge at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College had been the backdrop for pictures of newlyweds, prom-goers and Woodsies.
But this fall, the aging, concrete structure on the west side of campus must be torn down. Engineers have determined it is unsafe and cannot be repaired, said Karen Dyer, the college's vice president of advancement.
Built around 1922, the concrete bridge was cast in several sections that have become disconnected as the foundation settled. Engineers say it is unstable and irreparable.
Among other problems, Dyer told the Tribune-Star (http://bit.ly/1kPmxaY ), the rebar in the concrete has deteriorated, so there is no structural framework upon which to attach new concrete.
The scenic bridge crosses over a pond called "Lake LeFer." It is located on the west side of campus close to the college's entrance.
The college does plan to build a new bridge at some point, but must first raise funds to do so, said Dottie King, college president.
While the loss of the existing, scenic bridge is a disappointment, the college has big plans for that part of campus through a major grant from the Hollie and Anna Oakley Foundation.
The intent is to restore the LeFer Lake habitat to serve as an outdoor environmental science laboratory and tie it to educational components involving middle school students and Woods' students; the college has a new environmental science major.
The project calls for dredging the lake, repairing the dam and removing the bridge, which will happen at about the same time later this fall, Dyer said.
The restoration involves several components, including:
— Draining the existing lake to enable dredging and repairs. To be scheduled in late fall/winter 2014, it will allow data collection on existing species and environmental conditions.
The pond, about four feet deep, has a lot of silt that must be dredged, Dyer said. The goal is to make the pond deeper to re-establish habitat.
— Dam repair. The lake is formed by an earthen dam, topped by St. Mary's Road, which is held in place by an eight-foot high concrete wall. The wall has eroded as water topped the dam in wet seasons because of poor drainage through the collapsed spillway below. SMWC is actively working with the Vigo County Commissioners on this project. Dam repair will coincide with the dredging of the lake and the removal of the bridge.
Other project components include sustainability — the college is looking for sustainable ways to remove and reuse the waste from the lake dredging as well as the bridge materials. It also calls for invasive species removal and a research/interpretive center.
The educational components include the Oakley Innovation Academy for middle school girls, which began this summer. For a week, the students will study environmental sciences, and this year they focused on LeFer Lake's habitats and species.
At the college level, the grant includes undergraduate research for Woods' students.
Robert Jean, assistant professor of ecology, will oversee the academic component. College students will study plant and animal species before and after restoration. They also will study water and soil quality.
The Woods also involved another partner, a group of Rose-Hulman students, who studied how to remove and replace the bridge, and it made recommendations.
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Information from: Tribune-Star, http://www.tribstar.com
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