A 4,500-pound steel foot bridge on the Chattooga River Trail was righted this month in a massive undertaking that required hoisting the bridge back into place using a system of overhead cables and pulleys rigged to large trees on both sides of the river.

The bridge was dislodged during the flooding last fall, most likely by a mass of debris and logs washing downstream It was ripped from its concrete footings, shearing off the steel bolts holding it in place, and swept several yards downstream before being caught on a rock.

“We were fortunate that the bridge stayed intact and was still structurally sound,” said Highlands District Ranger Erin Bronk.

The bridge, first installed in 1995 using a helicopter, was righted with the help of trail crews from Idaho and Montana.

“It was awesome and a lot of fun moving that bridge,” said Damian Lunetta, a member of the crew from Kootenai National Forest in Montana.

The crews used a skyline system, a technique used in logging to move large trees. A cable is strung overhead between two trees and pulleys are used to move objects along the line — thus the term “skyline system.”

“It was a fun project. It made you think a little bit,” said Jim West with the crew from Clearwater-Nez Perce National Forest in Idaho.

“We plan to have the bridge jacked up in place and raise the concrete footings to provide more clearance between the bridge and the river.”

While the crews were at it, they upgraded 8.5 miles of trailbed over steep and rugged terrain in the Highlands area.