The restoration of a major piece of Nevada County history has been fully funded in the California 2014-15 Budget. Governor Jerry Brown signed the budget earlier today (Friday) and according to South Yuba River Citizen’s League Executive Director Caleb Dardick, one million dollars was included to restore the Covered-Bridge at Bridgeport.

Click here to listen to SYRCL Executive Director, Caleb Dardick 

The Covered Bridge was closed in 2011 because of structural instability. The South Yuba River Parks Association, Friends of the Yuba, SYRCL, and a number of governmental agencies rallied to find over $300,000 of federal funds to pay for the stabilization of the structure. The legislature and governor are now funding the restoration portion of the Bridge.
Dardick says that the money was never a guarantee and that it took a community effort to make it a realization.

Click here to listen to SYRCL Executive Director, Caleb Dardick

Dardick says by coming together over a common cause, our voice was amplified in Sacramento. Dardick says the Board of Supervisors, the Grass Valley and Nevada City City Councils and Truckee Town Council, along with Assembly member Brian Dahle and Senator Jim Nielsen were advocates for the Bridge as well as a number of community organizations.

Click here to listen to SYRCL Executive Director, Caleb Dardick 

The Bridge at Bridgeport is the longest of its kind in the world and is a popular attraction to the almost 900,00 visitors to the Park each year.