NEWTON FALLS, Ohio - The Newton Falls Covered Bridge will be getting a bit of a face lift to keep it standing for centuries to come.

Engineers are planning to put in new floor boards, drainage and gutters and a new coat of paint for the oldest functioning covered bridge in the state originally built in 1831. 

“Just like a house every once in a while you gotta paint your house, you gotta put a new roof on it, it's just that type of structure where we gotta constantly keep up on it,” Gary Shaffer, the Deputy Engineer for the Trumbull County Engineer's Office said. 

Along with regular wear and tear the bridge has sustained some damages. Just last month it shut down after a car ran into the side. Those damages were mostly cosmetic but with this project engineers will be adding structural protection with a timber railing similar to a guardrail. 

“They're going to hit the inside of that bridge and that will protect the cross members. So, we still have some of the original timber members inside that bridge, we’re trying to protect those," Shaffer said. 

Those cross members are costly to replace. Shaffer said the bill for six new ones cost them around $750,000. 

The last significant maintenance to the bridge was 20 years ago. This time around engineers worked with a covered bridge expert to keep the look of the historic bridge the same while making it stronger. 

The work is expected to start in May of 2027 and wrap up by October. For some of that time the bridge will have to close but those closures are yet to be determined. 

Just the design of the work cost $48,500. The total cost for the project is nearly $450,000 with some funds coming through grants.