Hodges Road Bridge

Thanks for the tip. I just downloaded it. Good stuff!

No, it's on the free version, in the toolbar at the top (where the ruler, pushpin markers, etc. are located). It's the button with the clock on it. When you push the button, a slide bar appears that has all of the available satellite views, with the earliest being all the way to the left (usually ca. 1992-1993).

So, is the clock feature available only to paying members? I have not found it yet.

Yes Matthew......I found that out as well!

Much of Indiana's imagery (which is some of the clearest I've seen) dates to Feb and March of 2005.

I did notice, Robert, that the news articles you referenced were both published in 2003, so most likely the repairs described did indeed take place. The bridge was repaired long enough to see it through to its 2007 demolition and replacement, which is again confirmed by Google Earth. Just a note about Google Earth if you ever go to see if a particular bridge still exists--Google uses the clearest satellite shot in any one particular area as its default when you log on; some of these default screens in Minnesota date back to 2005!! So, be sure to use the clock function and scroll to the year you're looking for to get the most updated images, otherwise they could fool you! It took me a little while to figure that out! :>)

Newspapers frequently incorrectly describe the scope of work for bridge projects. The problem is made worse because some DOTs also describe a project where the superstructure is completely demolished and replaced, but the substructure is reused, as a "rehabilitation" which is equally misleading.

Thanks for the update Matt. I don't have access to the latest maps. I have long suspected that this bridge was gone. I guess that "repair" is now a euphemism for "replace".

The 2009 Google Earth satellite view confirms that there is now a very large UCEB where this bridge was once located.

This article indicates that a bridge in this area (and likely pertaining to this one) was repaired:

http://cjonline.com/stories/020803/com_topbriefs.shtml

Given the high sufficiency rating, I am not anticipating an "Elvis Bridge" however. If I was still in Kansas, I would do a field check.

It appears that this bridge was rammed by a driver: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4179/is_20030122/ai_...

Apparently, it needed $7,700 worth of repair.

Yeah....and the sufficiency rating of 100% in the 2008 inspection is likely the icing on the cake...unfortunately.

Sheldon:

You are probably right. I also suspect that this bridge has been replaced.

I'd probably suggest that this bridge is now lost. On the road, streetview ends about ten yards north of the bridge right where there is a "Road Closed Ahead" sign. So that probably means this bridge was being replaced by a new one.