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Markland Avenue Railroad Viaduct

Howard County, Indiana
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Photos 

Looking East at former bridge October 2005

Photo taken by James Norwood

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Map 

Facts 

Overview
Lost Bridge over Markland Avenue on Currently removed, formerly Central Railroad of Indianapolis (nee Norfolk Southern, N&W, Nickel Plate Road, Toledo St. Louis and Western Cloverleaf) in Kokomo
Location
Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana
Status
Lost
Future prospects
Rail line is still there despite removal of this bridge, but is up for abandonment and might be saved for future trail use.
History
Single lane underpass with low clearance that was often hit by trucks causing misalignment. City of Kokomo tried for years to get Norfolk Southern(during their ownership) to put at grade crosssing. Central Railroad finally allowed city to remove.
Design
Wood pilings, steel open deck. Similiar to Defenbaugh Street Viaduct West of here that still exists.
Also called
Markland underpass
Approximate latitude, longitude
+40.47611, -86.15870   (decimal degrees)
40°28'34" N, 86°09'31" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
16/571312/4480942 (zone/easting/northing)
USGS topographic map
Kokomo West
Inventory number
BH 42239 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

Available for reuse (162)
Howard County, Indiana (36)
Indiana (3,348)
Kokomo, Indiana (19)
Lost (10,373)
Lost 2003 (439)
Lost during 2000s (3,091)
New York, Chicago, & St. Louis Railroad (37)
Norfolk Southern Railway (453)
Owned by railroad (4,052)

Update Log 

  • April 13, 2009: New photo from James Norwood
  • April 10, 2009: New photos from James Norwood
  • April 7, 2009: Added by James Norwood

Sources 

  • James Norwood
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Comments 

Markland Avenue Railroad Viaduct
Posted April 7, 2009, by James Norwood

City of Kokomo has removed this structure and the Sycamore Street Indiana 22 about the same time in 2003. Markland Avenue has since been upgraded to two lanes with improved drainage. Drainage was an issue with nearby Wildcat Creek causing backups of water during heavy rains flooding out underpass causing road closure often. Previous owner Norfolk Southern balked at City of Kokomo's attempts to put an at grade crossing at this location citing costs and little traffic that they sent over this viaduct. After Central Railroad of Indy (CERA)leased this line, it was used for a few years, then taken back by NS before this section was finally sold outright to CERA despite no rail traffic moving for some time. CERA finally allowed Kokomo to remove entire structure and approaches. Rail is still in on either side of bridge approaches but again is up for abandonment. Currently they want to turn it into a trail, but another local railroad, Winamac Southern and US RAIL, are attempting to buy this trackage before abandonment is approved by the Surface Transportation Board. Jay