Ossipee — September 26, 2013 — For those wondering if the Whittier Covered Bridge will ever again be open for traffic, selectmen received an update this week. According to Ossipee Public Works Director Brad Harriman, he and the engineer from Hoyle Tanner made a presentation at N.H. Department of Cultural Resources earlier this month. Because the bridge is a historic site and the rehabilitation project is funded in large part by grants, there are several layers of approvals that must be obtained prior to work being done.

Harriman said the next step is for the project to receive all necessary permits to satisfy environmental protection requirements. There is a chance, he said that some work will be done to the bridge this fall but it will not be completed this year.

At the March 2013 town meeting, voters approved $80,000 as a partial match to the federal grant and will be asked to raise another $80,000 in March 2014.