Crumpled scaffolding which fell into the Hammond River near the Smithtown Covered Bridge is being removed. Image: Sharon Dunlop McEwen.

Provincial officials say the Smithtown Covered Bridge in Hampton was not damaged during a scaffolding collapse last week.

In an email update on Friday, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) said district staff attribute the collapse to high water from the heavy rains overnight Wednesday into Thursday.

DTI also said no one was hurt in the collapse and no one was on or near the scaffolding at the time.

The project’s scaffold installer was contacted early Thursday morning to assess the area and began removing the scaffolding, which was scheduled to continue on Friday and into this week.

While some scaffolding may remain in the river, it will be removed once the water recedes, said DTI.

The department is currently evaluating alternate means other than scaffolding to access the work.

Work on the bridge was set to be completed this week, but Thursday’s incident will add another two weeks to the project.

Damascus Road located near the bridge remains open to traffic.