Robbins Ford Bridge

I like it Wayne......you get an assist on that one!

That's Ugly Pink Dead Horse UPDH.

Hey......maybe if they would start painting the UCEB's Pink.......hmmmmmmmm

Sorry J.R.....I know I'm beating a dead horse....or is that a dead Pink horse!

You've got a point.

You're right - and let me just add a corollary, the more interesting the old span, the greater the yawn factor of the replacement.

Ignoring the pink tint, the Lincoln Highway Bridge in Allen County, Indiana certainly is a qualifier to your contest. This slab replaced an attractive arch.

(Maybe we should start a listing for "Ugliest Replacements" as voted by Bridge Hunters.)

I maintain that the ugliness of the UCEB is always in proportion to the historical significance of the bridge that it replaced (assuming that the bridge was demolished).

World's Ugliest UCEB contest anyone?

I like to think of it more as "Unattractive" Concrete Eyesore Bridge.

Of course, some of them really ARE ugly.

UCEB stands for Ugly Concrete Eyesore Bridge.

I was wondering, what is meant by UCEB?

I just hope they have a plan in place to actually tend to the bridge on a regular basis. Keeping the weeds and overgrowth down, and cleaning up trash make a big difference in a bypassed span. Unfortunately, most bridges that are bypassed are eventually forgotten. Prison work crews could easily be used for clean up and general maintenance.

Delaware County's Preist Ford Bridge is an example of a forgotten span. They bypassed it, painted it (although over rust and section loss) and have now forgootten about it. The landowner has taken over and fenced it off so you can't get to it. It even looks like they are attempting to plant trees in front of it to block the view. There are also several large trees that make viewing from the new bridge limited.

It would be nice if the historic preservation office, as part of the agreement in a bypass situation would require a maintained public access for viewing.

I drove by this bridge yesterday 3/20. New bridge looks near completion but it also looks like the through truss is receiving minor restoration. The bent portal crossbrace was replaced as well as a couple of floor beams and all new deck joists are being added as well as concrete being poured on top of the abutments. Don't know if the deck will be wood or concrete. The road was little used and it could have been rehabbed for vehicles. But at least it looks like the bridge is not being abandoned or removed.

According to the INDOT Historic Bridge Page this bridge is to be bypassed and remain in place as a pedestrian bridge. They did an excellent job with the restoration of the Boyd bridge (700S-#140) in the Greensburg park. I also hope they will save bridges #18 and #19 over the Flatrock River.

#18 features some nice portal decoration, and #19 is a rare product of the Converse Bridge Co. of Chattanooga, Tenn.

As of 8/6/07 this bridge has been closed. It has not been in that great of shape for many years. I just hope the county does not tear it down. In my opinion, there is plenty of room on the south side to build a new bridge to preserve this one. This is the only one left south of Greensburg over Sand Creek out of several. The 600S bridge south of this one was destroyed by a truck several years ago, and one on 1000S in a nice setting was oblitered by the county not long ago.