Melissa Brand-Welch

About Me 

Email: melissabrandwelch [at] msn [dot] com

I'm not an outdoor kind of girl unless I'm hunting for bridges.I am originally from Maunie Illinois and currently live in Carmi Illinois. My favorite areas are the Little Wabash river bridges and anything abandoned. Apparently I'm a Pontist !

Favorite Photos 

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NYC - Mud Creek Bridge (Edwards County, Illinois)

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Cherry Shoals Bridge

Cherry Shoals Bridge (White County, Illinois)
Portal view

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CCC&StL Railroad Bridge (White County, Illinois)
Side view from Route 1

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Lowe Bridge

Lowe Bridge (White County, Illinois)
View from below

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Sigler Bridge

Sigler Bridge (White County, Illinois)

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Tait Bridge

Tait Bridge (Edwards County, Illinois)

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Recent Updates 

Lyndon Bridge (Whiteside County, Illinois)
Pennsylvania through truss bridge over Rock River on 6th Avenue (Lyndon Road)
January 18, 2019: New photo
Aurora Ferry (Dearborn County, Indiana)
Lost Ferry across Ohio River
January 18, 2019: Added
Aurora Ferry (Dearborn County, Indiana)
Lost Ferry across Ohio River
January 18, 2019: New photo
GM&O - Kaskaskia River Bridge (Randolph County, Illinois)
Lost bridge over Kaskaskia River (former channel) on Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railway west of Baldwin
January 18, 2019: New photo
GM&O - Kaskaskia River Bridge (Randolph County, Illinois)
Lost bridge over Kaskaskia River (former channel) on Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railway west of Baldwin
January 17, 2019: New photo
Lake Shelbyville Bridge (Shelby County, Illinois)
Stringer bridge over Lake Shelbyville on Ch 3(Fas 642)
January 17, 2019: New photo
Coal Shaft Bridge (Moultrie County, Illinois)
Lost Through truss bridge
January 17, 2019: New photo
Thompson Mill Covered Bridge 13-87-01 (Shelby County, Illinois)
Covered bridge over Kaskaskia River north of Cowden
January 17, 2019: New photos
General Dean Suspension Bridge (Clinton County, Illinois)
Suspension bridge over Kaskaskia River at Fairfax Street in Carlyle
January 17, 2019: New photo
Chester Bridge (Randolph County, Illinois)
Through and deck truss bridge over the Mississippi River on MO 51/IL 150 at Chester
January 17, 2019: New photo
Walnut Street Bridge (Gallatin County, Illinois)
Steel stringer bridge over Saline River on Fas 902
January 17, 2019: New photo
IL 13 Big Muddy River Bridge (Jackson County, Illinois)
Lost Through truss bridge over Big Muddy River
January 17, 2019: New photo
US 51 Big Muddy River Bridge (Jackson County, Illinois)
Bridge over Big Muddy River on IL 51
January 17, 2019: Added
US 51 Big Muddy River Bridge (Jackson County, Illinois)
Bridge over Big Muddy River on IL 51
January 17, 2019: New photo
Big Muddy River Bridge (Jackson County, Illinois)
Bridge over Big Muddy River on Reed Station Road
January 17, 2019: Added
Big Muddy River Bridge (Jackson County, Illinois)
Bridge over Big Muddy River on Reed Station Road
January 17, 2019: New photo
Big Muddy River Bridge (Williamson County, Illinois)
Lost Through truss bridge over Big Muddy River on Cambria Road
January 17, 2019: New photo
IL 149 Big Muddy River Bridge (Franklin County, Illinois)
Lost Through truss bridge over Big Muddy River on IL 149
January 17, 2019: Added
IL 149 Big Muddy River Bridge (Franklin County, Illinois)
Lost Through truss bridge over Big Muddy River on IL 149
January 17, 2019: New photo
IL 14 Big Muddy River Bridge (Franklin County, Illinois)
Lost Through truss bridge over Big Muddy River on IL 14
January 17, 2019: New photo
Sand Ridge Bridge (Jackson County, Illinois)
Lost Camelback through truss bridge over Big Muddy River on Town Creek Road (CH 5)
January 17, 2019: New photo
Hazleton Ferry (Gibson County, Indiana)
Lost Ferry across White River
January 16, 2019: Added
Hazleton Ferry (Gibson County, Indiana)
Lost Ferry across White River
January 16, 2019: New photo
Hazleton Bridge (Knox County, Indiana)
Through truss bridge over White River on Old US 41 in Hazleton
January 16, 2019: New photo
Rockport Ferry (Spencer County, Indiana)
Lost Ferry across Ohio River
January 16, 2019: Added
Rockport Ferry (Spencer County, Indiana)
Lost Ferry across Ohio River
January 16, 2019: New photo
Mauckport Ferry (Harrison County, Indiana)
Lost Ferry across Ohio River
January 16, 2019: Added
Mauckport Ferry (Harrison County, Indiana)
Lost Ferry across Ohio River
January 16, 2019: New photo
Loda Bridge (Iroquois County, Illinois)
Lost Pony truss bridge over Unnamed creek
January 16, 2019: Added
Loda Bridge (Iroquois County, Illinois)
Lost Pony truss bridge over Unnamed creek
January 16, 2019: New photo
M&StL - Keithsburg Lift Bridge (Mercer County, Illinois)
Vertical lift bridge that carried the M&StL across the Mississippi River at Keithsburg
January 16, 2019: New photo
IC - Sand Ridge Bridge (Jackson County, Illinois)
Lost Bridge over Big Muddy River on Illinois Central Railroad
January 16, 2019: New photo
13th Street South Skunk River Bridge (Old) (Story County, Iowa)
Warren through truss bridge over Skunk River on 13th Street
January 15, 2019: New photo
Mount Carmel Bridge (Wabash County, Illinois)
Through truss bridge over Wabash River on IL 15/IN 64 in Mount Carmel
January 15, 2019: New photo
New Harmony Bridge (Posey County, Indiana)
Four-span through truss toll bridge over Wabash River on IL 14 at New Harmony, Indiana
January 15, 2019: New photo
Cave-in-Rock Ferry (Hardin County, Illinois)
Free ferry over the Ohio River on IL 1/KY 91 at Cave-in-Rock in Cave-In-Rock
January 15, 2019: New photo
H & C Ferry (Perry County, Indiana)
Lost Ferry across Ohio River
January 15, 2019: Added
H & C Ferry (Perry County, Indiana)
Lost Ferry across Ohio River
January 15, 2019: New photo
Wabash Cannon Ball Bridge (Lawrence County, Illinois)
Through truss bridge over Wabash River on TR 257 northeast of St. Francisville
January 15, 2019: Essay added
Wabash Cannon Ball Bridge (Lawrence County, Illinois)
Through truss bridge over Wabash River on TR 257 northeast of St. Francisville
January 15, 2019: New photos
Paducah Bridge (McCracken County, Kentucky)
Two-span tied-arch bridge on Interstate 24 over the Ohio River between Paducah, KY, and Metropolis, IL
January 14, 2019: New photo
Cairo Ohio River Bridge (Alexander County, Illinois)
Cantilevered through truss over the Ohio River on US 51/60/62 between Cairo, Illinois and Wickliffe, Kentucky
January 14, 2019: New photo
New Haven Bridge (Gallatin County, Illinois)
Lost Pratt through truss bridge over Little Wabash River
January 14, 2019: New photo
Wabash Memorial Bridge (White County, Illinois)
Steel arch bridge over Wabash River connecting IN 62 and IL 141 between the towns of Mt. Vernon, IN and New Haven, IL.
January 14, 2019: New photo
Shawneetown Bridge (Gallatin County, Illinois)
Through truss bridge over the Ohio River on IL 13/KY 56 at Old Shawneetown
January 14, 2019: New photo
Mauckport Bridge (Meade County, Kentucky)
Through truss bridge over the Ohio River on KY 79/IN 135
January 14, 2019: New photos
Bob Cummings Bridge (Perry County, Indiana)
Steel through arch bridge over the Ohio River on IN 237 and KY 69 in Cannelton
January 14, 2019: New photo
Glover Cary Bridge (Daviess County, Kentucky)
Through truss bridge over Ohio River on IN 161 (formerly US 231) at downtown Owensboro
January 14, 2019: New photos
Twin Bridges (Henderson County, Kentucky)
Pair of cantilevered through truss bridges over the Ohio River on US 41. Rehabilitated 2008
January 14, 2019: New photo
Hennepin Canal Bridge (Henry County, Illinois)
Lost Through truss bridge over Hennepin Canal on IL 82
January 14, 2019: Added

Recent Comments 

[Respond]
Hazleton Bridge (Indiana)
Posted January 16, 2019

Thanks Mike ! I was thinking about asking you and your wife to Tour Guide the Hazleton with me ! I've been over the Wabash Cannonball in June 2015 but ready to go Again.

[Respond]
Hazleton Bridge (Indiana)
Posted January 16, 2019

Mike Daffron, this bridge is on my list for Spring 2019.

RE: Curveball
Posted January 16, 2019

Luke...

[Respond]
IC - Sand Ridge Bridge (Illinois)
Posted January 16, 2019

Thank you to James and Don. I appreciate your help!

[Respond]
Rainbow Bridge (Illinois)
Posted January 15, 2019

Letter to the editor from 1982 ! I haven't found anything else...

Jackson County Illinois
Posted January 15, 2019

Hey Luke...would you help me with this ?

RE:13th
Posted January 15, 2019

Seriously not a problem Luke. Let me know anytime.

[Respond]
H & C Ferry (Indiana)
Posted January 15, 2019

Thanks Jeff !

Iowa/13th Street
Posted January 15, 2019

Both added Luke

[Respond]
Veenker Memorial Golf Course Low Water Crossing (Iowa)
Posted January 15, 2019

I enjoy the low water crossing

[Respond]
Plattsburg Road Bridge (Missouri)
Posted January 14, 2019

Seriously love the photos with Snow

[Respond]
Rainbow Bridge (Illinois)
Posted January 14, 2019

Beautiful photos!

[Respond]
Money Creek Bridge (Illinois)
Posted January 14, 2019

Amazing photos in the snow !

Kickapoo Creek
Posted January 13, 2019

Luke , you added this in 2015. Do you think the photo matches the bridge description?

https://bridgehunter.com/il/peoria/bh69050/

[Respond]
Kaskaskia River Bridge (Illinois)
Posted January 13, 2019

Thanks Art !