Rating:
7 votes

Avon Bridge

Hendricks County, Indiana
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Photos 

Photo taken by Anthony Dillon in June 2006

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Map 

Facts 

Overview
Whipple through truss bridge over White Lick Creek on a pedestrian trail (former Broyles Road) in Avon
Location
Avon, Hendricks County, Indiana
Status
Open to pedestrians
History
Built 1875 by the Columbia Bridge Works
Builder
- Columbia Bridge Works of Dayton, Ohio
Design
Whipple through truss
Recognition
Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
Also called
Old Route 36 Bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude
+39.76016, -86.41690   (decimal degrees)
39°45'37" N, 86°25'01" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
16/549946/4401300 (zone/easting/northing)
USGS topographic map
Brownsburg
Inventory number
BH 36735 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

19th Century (3,822)
Avon, Indiana (6)
Built 1875 (52)
Built during 1870s (545)
Columbia Bridge Works (25)
Hendricks County, Indiana (75)
Historic Bridge Conference 2012 (47)
Indiana (3,348)
 NR-eligible (3,750)
Open to Pedestrians (2,084)
Select (538)
Through truss (9,210)
Truss (23,574)
US 36 (35)
Whipple truss (155)
Wrought iron (225)

Update Log 

  • January 24, 2013: New photos from Brent Tindall
  • March 4, 2012: Updated by Brent Tindall: Fix typo, added "original US 36" to "Carries" section.
  • March 3, 2012: Updated by Brent Tindall: Adjusted GPS coordinates.
  • January 23, 2011: New photos from Brent Tindall
  • May 10, 2010: New photos from Anthony Dillon
  • September 9, 2009: Updated by Jim Grey: Added GPS coordinates.
  • April 11, 2009: New photo from Anthony Dillon
  • July 26, 2008: New photos from Anthony Dillon
  • June 24, 2008: Added by Anthony Dillon

Sources 

  • Tony Dillon - spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com
  • Jim Grey - mobilene [at] gmail [dot] com
  • Brent Tindall - bizzat219 [at] yahoo [dot] com
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Comments 

Avon Bridge
Posted February 28, 2012, by Tony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

There was supposed to be a complete rehab of this bridge in the works. I know that Barker submitted a proposal several years back that included complete replication of all the decorative cast portal elements. With the loss of the Howard Bridge in Ohio a couple years ago this is likely the oldest remaining Columbia Bridge Works span. I would assume that budget restraints have hurt these plans.

As for the MOB...that is indeed very short-sighted on their part. Like Michigan, Indiana has numerous pony trusses available that would fit the bill here perfectly.

Avon Bridge
Posted February 28, 2012, by Nathan Holth (form3 [at] historicbridges [dot] org)

A contract has been let to add a modern railing to this bridge. The original railing will be left in place. Also, the contract includes the construction of a 50 foot M.O.B. on the trailway that this bridge serves. It is unclear why a historic bridge is not being used for this purpose, however I am extremely disappointed. We have several abandoned historic bridges in Michigan that are around 50 foot in length that could have been used.