By Amy Sienicki
 
February 4, 2010
 
SUNNY VALLEY, Ore. - A historic covered bridge is open again after engineers spent Thursday doing an investigative inspection.
 
Josephine County officials say they found cracks in the bottom cord of the Grave Creek Covered Bridge in Sunny Valley.
 
The bridge was built in 1920. It is the only covered bridge that is visible from Interstate-5 anywhere between the Canadian and Mexican borders. The bridge was retrofitted in 1998.
 
Crews discovered the cracks when they came out to paint the bridge. Covered bridges need to be repainted about every eight to 10 years.
 
A Eugene engineering firm is trying to determine the number and location of the cracks. It says this will affect the load limit and capacity of the bridge.
 
"Covered bridges are something we need to take care of, and be careful around. They're precious and they're old and they need special attention," said Stewart McCornack with OBEC Consulting Engineers.
 
McCornack says it will take a couple weeks before they rerate the bridge.