Joppa Bridge will be held in our hearts forever

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Timeline:

1907 to 2025 - Joppa Bridge has been a gathering place, for families, students, friends, picnics, baptisms, weddings, engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, and in recent years, monthly Coffee on the Bridge, Christmas Gatherings,  and more. 

2016 - Fish Fry Fundraiser for both historic Iron Truss Bridges - Joppa Bridge and Russell Fork Bridge

2017 - Historical Markers are unveiled at Joppa Bridge and Russell Fork Bridge (by BCHC)

2019 - Joppa Bridge is closed by the County for "Structural Damage"  

2023 -  Dec 9th, County Commissioners Meeting.  Two Joppa residents attended and were told that there is no current plan or funding for Joppa Bridge stabilization.

6 Feb 2024  Burnet County HIstorical Commission Board Meeting.  Bridge Project is on the Agenda,  Rachel Bryson will attend the next County Commissioners meeting to raise the topic.

13 Feb 2024 Burnet Co Commissioners Meeting - the topic of Joppa Bridge restoration status was not discussed at this meeting.   BCHC will persue after primary elections 

2 April 2024 BCHC Meeting.  County Commissioner Damon Beierle was in attendance, and also two residents of Joppa Community.  Joppa Bridge restoration was discussed, and Damon reviewed work done in the past.  He promised to bring to forefront with the commissioners, and keep us informed.

18 April 2024  ARTICLE in DailyTrib.com;  "Joppa Bridge rehab project revived" by Suzanne Freeman    https://www.dailytrib.com/2024/04/18/joppa-bridge-rehab-project-revived/

excerpt: " Plans to upgrade the Joppa bridge are back on track, according to Burnet County Precinct 2  Commissioner Damon Beierle. The structure, built in the early 1900s is one of only two iron truss bridges on public property in the county still standing. Beierle spoke about the project during the Burnet County Historical Commission's April meeting. 

"We’ve decided we are going to put a committee together with Joppa residents, me, and members of the Historical Commission to get a plan together, " he told dailytrib.com. "Money is the question. We have to go out and ID some funding sources."

9 May 2024 - A handful of Joppa Community Neighbors & friends of Joppa Bridge met to discuss a path toward getting started on forming a Joppa Community association or group. whose purpose will be:

1. To preserve the History of Joppa Community for future generations

2. To have an active community group who provides a social connection to those living in the area.

3. To work with the Burnet County leadership and the Burnet County Historical Commission in maintaining and restoring the historic iron bridges of Burnet County.

4. To be a group who is respectful of it's neighbors, other organizations, churches, etc.

13 June 2024 - 9:00am Meeting at Joppa Bridge was held to consider the needed work to restore the Old Iron Bridge for the community and the county.  These representatives attended the meeting

• County Judge Oakley

• Damon Beierle, Commissioner Pct 2

• Blair Manning (Tourism Director)

• Karin Smith, Burnet County Auditor

• Seth Shelburn, Texas Electric Cooperatives 

• Terri Burger represented Burnet County Historical Commission

 Abt 14 Joppa and Northeast Burnet County Residents were in attendence

Stay tuned for notes from the meeting.

As of June 19, Burnet County Leaders and PEC are involved; planning new electric service

June 20, 2024 - locaiton for PEC electricity pole has been marked; we are in line for PEC install. 

More to come ...

•   County Leaders met on the bridge June 13, 2024.  All are in agreement to move forward this year, sooner rather than later.   Hopefully done by Thanksgiving week bridge lighting tradition, Sat Nov 30.

• Determine extent of the damage
• Structural engineer recommends what is needed to assure that the bridge is structurally safe & sound for foot traffic;  Bridge is LIMITED TO FOOT TRAFFIC ONLY
• County send a crew to repair.
• Install PEC Power, pole.. with locked outlets and timers, for lighting and misc use
• Aesthetically, leave the bridge AS IS in its historical state; no plans to modernize, paint, etc.  
• Repair but not change or modernize, the dented iron railings.  Minor repairs - by a local neighbor welder?
• Install two old fashioned street lamps (formerly at the Burnet train depot)
• Reconfigure the entry stones, for easier handicap access, and to block motorcycles
• Grade the approach to the bridge to divert water, prevent erosion
• Cap off the west end of the bridge
• Signage with Joppa Community Assn Contact information
• Mount game cams
• The Joppa Commuity residents will be the "caretakers and stewards" of the bridge

•   As of June 19, 2024, the wheels are in motion.  Burnet County Leaders and PEC are involved.   

•   June 20, 2024 The location for the PEC electricity pole has been marked, and PEC has been engaged to install power to the brige for lighting.  The County has agreed to pay for the installation and monthly electric utility bill.

•   Structural Engineer Site visit and opinion - pending

•  July 27, 2024 per Damon Beierle:  We are in line for PEC to install the electrical.  Don’t have a time frame but it’s in motion.  I think going out for bid is the next step.  We need a handle on what’s required and a cost associated.  I’ll get with Judge Oakley and the Auditor this week and start that process. 

•  NEXT STEP for County to go out for Bid.

•  Aug 28, 2024 - PEC Electric pole was installed today.  next will come the Meter Loop, Circuit Boxes.

•  NEXT:  It was suggested we take a peak under the hood so to speak, and pull back some boards to get a better idea of what the extent of damage is and possibly have some fixes that aren’t so intrusive.  - Damon Beierle

• Sep 10, 2024 - PEC was back today. Electric service being installed. County waiting  for  P.E.C. to hook it up.   THANK YOU again to Burnet County and Joppa Community for progress made and to come.

• Oct 29, 2024 - The electricity is live, outlets operational, timer and lock box in place.

• Nov 1 , 2024 - RFP for (pedestrian only) Joppa Bridge project will be in the Commissioners Court agenda 11/12.     RFP’s will be due in mid December.  Fingers crossed we get some qualified proposals! 

• JULY 5, 2025 - Joppa Bridge is swept away in the FLOOD of 2025

County Officials involved

•   County Judge Oakley

•   Damon Beierle, Commissioner Pct 2

•   Blair Manning (Tourism Director)

•   Karin Smith, Burnet County Auditor

•   Burnet County Historical Commission

What is needed to meet a completion goal of late 2024?

• Approval & Commitment of County
• Approval at the State level
• Structural Engineer assessment & submit recommendations for options
• RFP / Constractor Bids
• Idenify $ moneys earmarked in the past for Joppa Bridge
• Establish the Budget 
• Grant Money Applications
• Private Donor Fundraising?
• Joppa Commuity involvment?

under construction

The Time is Now -  Let's get this done!   

We've been talking about Joppa Bridge restoration  since before 2019

Two unique and cherished gems of Northeast Burnet County are our HISTORIC IRON TRUSS BRIDGES  Joppa Bridge 1907 and Russell Fork Bridge 1911.  To our knowledge, they are only two remaining iron truss bridges on Burnet County public land.  In order to preserve history today and for future generations, they are worthy of preservation, restoration, and ongoing maintenance.

We are very worried that the stabilization of the Joppa Bridge will continue to take a back seat to other county projects, all of which are worthy projects.

    However, in the meantime, our Joppa Bridge will crumble and become less and less stable.  

Will we ever again be able to walk, rest, relax, gather on  historic Joppa Bridge?  Bring our Grandchildren to stand on history?  share a coffee, hot cocoa, or ice cream with friends & loved ones on the bridge?  in our lifetime?

JOPPA BRIDGE STABILIZATION PROJECT

Since 2019 or earlier, the Burnet County Historical Commision, the Burnet County Commissioners, and residents of Joppa Community have discussed the need for stabilizing Joppa Bridge so that it can again be enjoyed by residents and visitors of Burnet County.  

 March 6, 2019 post by Damon Beierle - Burnet County Pct 2 Commissioner

“ The historic Joppa Bridge is in need of some TLC. We will be assessing some damage and determining the best way to repair it in the coming weeks. The Burnet County Historical Commission and The Texas Historical Commission are working with us to ensure that repairs meet the standards required because of its historical significance. The damage is not deemed as major but we certainly want to make the effort now to fix it properly. Update coming soon.” 

Please contact your County Commissioners - let's get this done this year!