One of the major components of the project was repairing the abutments and building new wing walls. McAlister Stone Company was chosen to complete the 11-foot-high wing walls on each corner of the bridge. A 10-man McAlister crew from Lancaster, Kentucky used dry-laid stone masonry, a technique that dates back to pre-historic times. This method was chosen over mortaring for historic preservation reasons.

In dry-laid stone masonry, the crew measures, chips, and hammers each stone meticulously to fit into the next without any mortar. This art form takes true patience and endurance.

Once Intech Contracting had completed the backfill between the wing walls, large rolls of special reinforcing fabric were cut into layers, and then laid over the soil and topped with sand. This use of fabric to better engineer the approaches is a modern technique that reduces the outward force on the walls.

Finally, in October 2004, engineers were ready to return the structure to its rightful place across Mill Creek.