Leaders in Washington, Illinois, marked the reopening of Candlewood Bridge on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony near Glendale Cemetery. The city also received a landmark designation for the bridge from the Illinois State Historical Society.
The bridge, a double-arch stone structure that crosses Farm Creek, was built in 1894. It sits near the site where Washington’s first settler, William Holland, established his homestead in 1825.
City Engineer Dennis Carr said the repair work took coordination between the city and the Illinois Department of Transportation. The scope of work focused on getting the bridge back in service after a headwall separated from the bridge. Carr said crews replaced stones, anchored stones that had fallen off back to the bridge, and completed tuckpointing work.
For mason contractors and restoration crews, this project is a clear reminder that stone infrastructure work is both structural and historic. Matching existing stonework, re-securing displaced units, and completing tuckpointing to restore mortar joints all tie directly to long-term performance, water management, and durability in masonry assemblies.
Carr said the repair cost came in just under $500,000 and took a little over a year to complete. Washington Historical Society President Jennifer Essig said the bridge’s history, location, and architecture set it apart as a local landmark.
Read the full, original article from 1470 & 100.3 WMBD here.