ANDERSON, Ind. —
Madison County has an old bridge spanning Killbuck Creek on County Road 450 North it has wanted to replace since 2000.
Anderson Mayor Kevin Smith wants to reuse the bridge because he thinks it would be a terrific addition to the White River trail system. He’s had his eye on it since he was a member of the Madison County Council.
Smith said the bridge represents more than just a means of getting from one place to another.
To him, it represents engineering prowess, the unique craftsmanship of a bygone era and can still serve a useful function as a pedestrian bridge even though it’s 102 years old.
“I’m just glad it’s still up there and still available,” Smith said. “If we can reuse it, why tear it down and send it to the scrap yard?”
According to a legal advertisement published Saturday in The Herald Bulletin:
“Madison County Bridge 97 over Killbuck Creek is a metal, single-span, pinned Pratt thru truss structure featuring laced channel vertical posts and cross bracing, eye-bar diagonals, counters, lower chord members and hangers, and inclined I-bean end posts.
“The bridge is severely damaged and has been closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic since 2000 due to total failure of the lower chord at the northeast and southeast corners of the bridge.”
After the bridge was closed in 2000, the county secured $1.4 million to replace the bridge, with a $350,000 county match.
Environmental studies began a year later, and plans were developed for a replacement structure with a roadbed of 32 feet, capable of handling modern vehicles and farm equipment, said Madison County Highway Engineer Charles Leser.
Shortly after that, INDOT and the Federal Highway Administration developed a program to preserve historic bridges around the state and nation.
Currently, Bridge 97 is one of 63 historic bridges being marketed for preservation in-place, or for relocation by state and federal highway officials.
“If we had started this process in 1990, we would have been done by 1995,” Leser said.
However, development of the program with various public hearing and public comment periods took time to implement, Leser said.
“Just because you get federal money doesn’t mean it will be easy,” he added.
As things now stand, the county’s plan is to replace the bridge in 2014; however, the county can’t begin to buy right of way until the current bridge is gone, Leser said. After completion of a six-month advertising period, Anderson could be in a position to take possession of the bridge, although figuring out how to disassemble and move the structure could pose a challenge, Smith said.
Find Stu Hirsch on Facebook and @StuHirsch on Twitter, or call 640-4861.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Madison County bridge No. 97, the old iron bridge over Killbuck Creek on County Road 450 North, between county roads 300 East and 375 East, is being offered by the county to interested parties. The bridge has been closed since 2000. John P. Cleary
-
Madison County bridge No. 97, the old iron bridge over Killbuck Creek on CR 450N. John P. Cleary
-
Madison County bridge No. 97, the old iron bridge over Killbuck Creek on CR 450N, between CR 300E & 375. John P. Cleary
-
Madison County bridge No. 97, the old iron bridge over Killbuck Creek on CR 450N. John P. Cleary
-
Madison County bridge No. 97, the old iron bridge over Killbuck Creek on CR 450N. John P. Cleary
Discussion
Historic bridge likely on move
Old iron structure could serve city trail system, mayor says
- Local News
-
-
Wounded veteran gets a new home
Tim Senkowski is looking forward to eating Thanksgiving dinner with his family in his new home.
-
News of Record: Divorce and bankruptcy filings
Divorce filings and bankruptcy filings recently for Madison County, as published Sunday in The Herald Bulletin:
-
EMA: Possibility of earthquake not as rare as perceived
We’re in Central Indiana, so the possibility of a major earthquake ravaging the area is pretty remote, right? It might not be as unlikely as you think.
-
“Paddle protest” travels White River
A rainy morning did not keep about 50 environmentalists from kayaking and canoeing Saturday in protest of the proposed Mounds Lake Reservoir.
-
Arrest log: May 19
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Friday, based on Madison County Jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers, but are not final until the Madison County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
-
Arrest log: May 18
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Thursday and Friday, based on Madison County Jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers, but are not final until the Madison County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
-
Willowcrest Park ‘first of its kind’
A vision Rob Loose conceived 11 years ago became reality Friday.
Loose, the president of Loose Funeral Homes and Crematory, christened The Gardens at Willowcrest Park, the state’s first stand-alone cremation garden. Loose and his wife Jane hosted the opening ceremony behind the funeral home and next to the new garden. -
Ravens run into buzzsaw in Round 1 of Div. III Softball World Series
Anderson University's softball team lost its first game of the NCAA Div. III Softball World Series 8-1 to Luther University (Iowa) today in Eau Claire, Wis.
-
Anderson man charged with sexual battery
A suspect was in custody Friday night after he was accused of sexually touching a woman while she was sleeping early Friday morning.
-
Man in serious condition after car accident near Frankton
An Elwood man is in serious condition at an Indianapolis hospital tonight after being airlifted this morning to an Indianapolis hospital following an accident that ejected him from his vehicle.
- More Local News Headlines
-
