Covered bridge work begins

Crews from the St. Joseph County Road Commission this week started work on a $100,000 upgrade of the Langley Covered Bridge.

The task, slated to take two weeks to complete, focuses on replacing the upper portion of the bridge’s two-layer deck.

Chris Minger, director of operations, said the bridge has a two-part floor, and the structure is at a point where its condition requires the removal and replacement of oak planks.

Minger said a few additional odd jobs will be done while the bridge is closed. Some of that work includes replacing cross-piece stabilizers, as well as duties that can be performed only from under the 300-foot-long bridge.

Minger said the Langley Covered Bridge averages between 1,700 and 2,000 vehicles a day. Its detour has traffic heading about a mile east to Angevine Road.