Historic Twin Stone Arch Culvert

Project Description:
In 1837 the citizens of Miami County Ohio would stroll along the towpath of the Miami-Erie Canal, a waterway that meandered from Piqua to Toledo and on to New York’s Hudson River. Supported by twin stone arches, the towpath traversed the Howell Ditch that passed under the canal and fed the Great Miami River. 165 years later the Miami County Board of Commissioners assigned Midwest Maintenance, Inc. the task of unearthing and restoring this significant icon of that great waterway. The project required a combination of archeology and delicate craftsmanship.

The twin arches, one of only two sets remaining in Ohio, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They presented a unique challenge because of their stone barrel masonry construction and the delicate task of ensuring the culverts remained intact during its restoration.

Project Execution:
The Miami County Board of Commissioners awarded Midwest Maintenance, Inc. the contract to unearth and restore the Twin Stone Arch Culvert that is part of the historic Miami-Erie Canal that traveled through Miami County during the mid-nineteenth century. This project involved dry laying and mortared barrel masonry.

The scope of the contracted work on the 96 Feet long twin barrel masonry arches included three distinct phases:

• Preparing the Job Site
• Dismantling Existing Masonry
• Masonry Reconstruction

The timeline ran from July 15, 2002 to July 1, 2003, which was within the contracted time period for project completion.

Summary:
The Miami Erie-Canal Twin Stone Arches stands as one of the great transportation feats of the eighteenth century. The beautiful stone arches, supporting a path traversing the Howell Ditch as it passes under the canal on its way to the Great Miami River had nearly disappeared under decades of accumulated earth. Midwest Maintenance, Inc. is proud to have provided its engineering expertise and knowledge of historic restoration in unearthing and restoring these intricate, arch barrel structures. Their restoration has preserved a significant piece of Miami County history.

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Awards:
Associated Builders and Contractors Regional Award of Merit

Associated Builders and Contractors National Award of Merit