Published: September 04, 2008 02:41 pm         

Bridge work

Recognition for a job well done

Congratulations to the folks in Carroll County on their recent recognition for saving two historic bridges.

Carroll County Commissioners and the Wabash and Erie Canal Association were honored by the western region of the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana for their work to save two bridges.

Restoration of the Carrollton Bridge is the product of nearly 12 years of work. The award is the third county commissioners have received for the project. The others came from the American Council of Engineering Companies and the Indiana Partnership for Transportation Quality.

The Carrollton Bridge, built in 1927, was designed by Daniel Luten. County commissioners point out that they not only saved a historic bridge, they saved money. The price tag for rehabilitating the old bridge came in at just under $2 million, but officials say tearing it down and starting over would have cost considerably more.

The canal association, meanwhile, won recognition for its work in restoring a Stearns Truss bridge that is now a part of Delphi’s Wabash Heritage Corridor Trail.

The bridge designed by civil engineer William E. Stearns featured a moveable truss design, and it was designed to use less metal than other bridges with the same load capacity. The bridge had been out of use for decades, and it was on the verge of demolition when the canal association came to the rescue.

Volunteers dismantled the old bridge so that they could paint it and lay new decking. It is now known as the Blue Bridge, and it carries pedestrian traffic along the trail.

Thanks to the efforts of the commissioners and the canal association, two pieces of Carroll County history have been preserved. And the two entities aren’t finished yet.

Commissioners say they now plan to rehabilitate a bridge called the Burnett’s Creek Arch, and the canal association has its eyes on another old bridge it hopes to restore for use along the canal.

Both entities deserve the recognition they’ve received, and it’s great to hear that both plan to continue their good work.