BRIDGEPORT – The walls of the grant-funded multipurpose facility to be dubbed “the Bridge” are rising on Bridgeport Exempted Village School District’s campus. Administrators and planners got a close look at the structure when they walked the site that will soon hold a health clinic, classrooms and a plethora of other services.
Much anticipation surrounds this project. When complete, the Bridge promises to make the school district a hub of conveniently accessible health care, education and training, and a site for community events. The Bridge would potentially serve tens of thousands in Bridgeport and the surrounding areas.
Construction has been ongoing through the summer and into the school year. Superintendent Brent Ripley and other district administrators recently heard an update from Andy Lowther, project manager with Beaver Construction. He also outlined the next phase of building the nearly 31,000 square foot expansion.
Lowther reported that the balance of the footers has been finished and concrete poured in the sections where classrooms, training areas and clinics will stand, with only the gymnasium remaining.
“All the underground plumbing is done. Any electric that needs to happen under the slabs, that was done.”
Through October, workers will erect the underlying steel structure and potentially begin roof decking on classroom sections in the last week of the month, followed by roofing on service areasin November. Roofing will begin on the gymnasium later.
Lowther said the gym should be significantly completed by the next meeting.
Steel deliveries will begin during mid-to-late October. Beaver will be coordinating with the district to get word out to parents. Ripley added good communication has been vital as work continues through the school year. He has thanked the public for cooperating with the school district to keep operations moving smoothly.
Lowther said recent rainfall has not set back construction. Plumbing and masonry are ahead of schedule.
He added extensive preplanning has kept the project on track through any variables that might have turned up once they broke ground.
Ripley agreed. Prior to breaking ground, the district held months of planning meetings involving community partners and stakeholders, as well as public meetings to seek more input.
“A lot of work was done,” Ripley said.
Curriculum director Leslie Kosanovic was impressed by the progress.
“It’s incredible.”
Talk then turned to the possibility of using some of the excess gravel to fill potholes around campus. Planners will also consider different types of furniture for the Bridge.
Lowther took the administrators on a tour of the construction site, where he pointed out where the gymnasium, walking track, day care, labs and classroom areas will be.
Ripley commended Beaver for their work.
“The employees and subcontractors have really pulled together with consistent and focused work. Their communication is truly appreciated as we can give that information to parents and community members to make sure they too know what is happening. We remain grateful to them and all faculty, staff, students and parents for pulling together to make this process flow with such precision. Here over the next few months, we will all get to see the Bridge rise from the ground and transform our school campus into what an education can be when everyone pulls together. We continue to make the promise that the Bridge will be that vision of the future, a foundation of strength while providing a future filled with possibility.”
The public’s cooperation is appreciated during this transitional period. The district is optimistic for the future once The Bridge is completed in 2026.
