In the last decade or so, historic bridges, especially metal truss ones, have seen new life and repurposed as featured elements in community parks, integrated into residential reuse projects, contributed to public art installments, and rehabilitated for continued transportation use in accordance with historic standards.

One of the biggest challenges in preserving historic bridges is finding the right engineering teams who understand the craftsmanship and materials in this age of new technology. Nels Raynor of Bach Steel in Holt, Michigan, has been working in the industry for more than 35 years, and historic bridge rehab projects make up a significant portion of his work.

“I can actually visualize how back in the 1800s they struggled to do work on these structures using the methods they had available versus the simplicity we have today such as welding, bolting,” he says. “It’s a skill that very few have in today's world.”

Raynor’s approach includes convincing newer engineers only familiar with current techniques that the tried and true bridge restoration methods like those used by Bach Steel produce safe, usable structures. “Our theory is that most of these bridges are over 100 years old and are still standing and being used,” he says. “Why not with a little help wouldn't they be useful for another 100 years?”

Here are a few interesting bridge reuse/rehab projects from around the country that now have another 100 years ahead of them thanks to creative thinking and skill:

Royal Mills at Riverpoint: West Warwick, Rhode Island

The Architectural Team (TAT) has long been working on historic rehab/reuse projects, led by co-founder and principal Bob Verrier, who was awarded a National Historic Preservation Award by President Reagan. Many of the firm’s projects have focused on repurposing old mills, a major part of the industrial and community fabric in New England towns.

The Royal Mills complex of five buildings included a dye factory and a weaving factory, connected by a bridge that housed a cart track. TAT converted 500,000 square feet of factory space into 244 residential units and commercial space.

Project Manager Nick Kane says Royal Mills was one of the most complicated projects he’s ever done—a large undertaking that included public riverwalks, hydroelectric power, and historic interpretation elements. The elevated truss bridge played a significant role in the operations of the mill complex, and Kane and his colleagues wanted to preserve its power of connection.

“We play mediator between people who have safety in mind and people who have preservation in mind,” Kane says. “These bridges don’t often have a lot of space inside. It’s tough ground between can we use this bridge as it is, and modernize and maintain it. Sometimes you can’t do anything with it except as a connection.”

To that end, TAT preserved the essential elements of the truss bridge so that it could be used as a furnished community room for residents and as a pedestrian walkway between two buildings.

Baker Chocolate Factory Complex: Dorcester, Massachusetts

Another TAT project was the Baker Chocolate Factory, a three-phase project that began in the 1980s and was completed in 2013, that included converting three historic mills on the Neponset River into luxury apartments. The factory administration building became the Walter Baker Chocolate Lofts, comprised of artist live and work spaces, a gallery, and meeting rooms.

While the factory hasn’t been in operation for more than 50 years, Verrier says you can still smell chocolate on the property. “All these mills are a focal point in the community,” he says.

As with Royal Mills and most other mills, Baker’s Chocolate had bridges and tunnels that served as a key feature to the fabric of the complex, as are the canals and other waterways integrated into these campuses. A four-story bridge became home to several new residential units.

“Bridges sometimes cause us major problems,” Verrier says. “They may be connected too low, and fire trucks can’t get between the buildings. On one project, we had to reconstruct the mill around these functioning bridges.”

Mill Road Bowstring Truss Bridge: Mt. Vernon, Ohio

In a small town northeast of Columbus, Ohio, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis had a pet project to save a bridge for more than 20 years. Back when he was in the county commissioner’s office, he heard that the Mill Road Bowstring Truss Bridge, erected in 1872 over Wakatomika Creek, was going to close because it was no longer safe for vehicular transport. The road closed, but the bridge wasn’t removed, and 20 years later, in the mayor’s office, Mavis heard that the bridge was now going to collapse into the creek.

“The city engineer asked me if I needed it,” he says. “We were working on an old industrial site, on the little finger off one of the lakes. It seemed like a good place to me to put this bridge.”

The place he had in mind had once been home to the Pittsburgh Plate Glass manufacturing plant, and was being rehabilitated for a new community park which was to become a focal point for Mount Vernon and Knox County.

Mavis took action. He got guidance from someone who had experience with relocating historic bridges and suggested using house movers and a trailer. After the bridge was relocated to the park, it took about four years to restore it for reuse as a pedestrian walkway over one of small lakes.

“It fit perfectly,” says Mavis. The bowstring truss is a wonderful aspect to the bridge. It’s been quite a treat for all of our visitors.”

The 250-acre Ariel-Foundation Park, completed and dedicated in summer of 2015, features other historic elements such as an old factory smokestack and brick stair towers. Mavis says it’s gaining a reputation in Ohio.

“We hope it will be here another couple hundred years,” he says.