MEDORA, Ind. — Officials in a Southern Indiana county are moving ahead with a $2 million plan to restore a 19th century wooden covered bridge.

The Jackson County commissioners are seeking federal funding to pay for the Medora Covered Bridge project and have accepted proposals from three engineering firms interested in doing the design work.

County highway superintendent Warren Martin says state officials have told him to keep working on the project and that he expects to recommend an engineering firm to commissioners later this year.

The Jackson County tourism group says the 434-foot long bridge was built in 1875 and is the longest 3-span covered bridge in the country. The structure has deteriorated over the years and hasn’t carried traffic since a nearby concrete bridge was built for Indiana 235 in 1972.