The Sandy Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site near Goldman is getting facelift thanks to a federal grant awarded to Missouri State Parks in 2011.
It is one of two Missouri historic covered bridges slated for additional protection and preservation efforts, paid for by the $144,788 grant from the Federal Highway Administration.
The grants are through the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program and are intended to assist the states in their efforts to preserve, rehabilitate or restore the nation's historic covered bridges.
The other project is Union Covered Bridge State Historic Site, west of Paris in Monroe County.
At Sandy Creek Covered Bridge, the department is working to remove graffiti and apply a sealant that will make it easier to remove future graffiti. In addition, plans call for installation of two infrared cameras with motion sensors to record activities at the bridge; and installation of two heat detectors for fire protection.
The grants will fund 80 percent of the project with the state supplying the remaining 20 percent.
Sandy Creek Covered Bridge was one of six bridges built in 1872 to allow travel from the Hillsboro area to St. Louis.
For information about Missouri's covered bridges, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) or visit mostateparks.com.