Barnard Steel Bridge

I sure ain't an expert, so...Hell if I know!

Thanks for posting pictures Mike!

Now, can you (or anyone else) guess what was done to get the bridge open?

Regards,

Art S.

Tony,

I think it will take an ongoing effort to turn things around. The county still isn't convinced but I think there is a chance.

Clark,

I believe the railing is original. It did have accident damage which was 'improved' while it was off.

Most bridges I've encountered look really bad but are usually stronger than they appear. This one was the opposite. It is a minor miracle it hadn't collapsed under a grain truck.

As I am aware of what was done; rather than say, I'll make it a bridgehunter challenge: For those able to visit the bridge, see if you can figure out what was done and what is still needed (besides paint :^) ).

Regards,

Art S.

I would assume they were reattached to the hangers on the verticals. Of course it offers no real protection to the truss members, but without a full rehabilitation and installation of a protective system that is the best that can be done.

Is the new inside "railing" welded to the bridge members? Was that their reinforcement?

Art,

I couldn't agree more with you!

Dicks is on a secondary road with a low ADT Count, and I doubt if the county will be in any rush to reopen it. Barnard on the other hand carries a decent amount of traffic (I think the 170 count on it is wrong btw).

We proved to Putnam County way back in 2006 with the Hibbs Ford Bridge that restoring these bridges is more economical. But yet they still haven't grasped the concept. They have demolished with no replacement (Appleby Ford); abandoned (Pinhook); bypassed and abandoned (Sutherlin Ford); demolished and replaced (Crow's); and given away (Houck). They did do some work on the Cooper Bridge, but I've not seen it to know what it amounts to.

I greatly appreciate your help with the Barnard Bridge and can only hope that the light bulb goes on and the county steps up and does what they need to... with it and the few other metal trusses that remain!

Tony,

I'm not sure about their priorities but unless Dick's is at risk removal, I'd rather see them actually fix this one first. The county promotes their covered bridges, it would be nice to add some trusses to the mix. If they proactively restored it, besides creating an attraction, their overall maintenance costs will go down.

I think doing so may demonstrate the benefit and help all of the bridges in the county.

Regards,

Art S.

Alright, Art! You are a barer of good news! Hope they can get Dicks Road bridge fixed now

A tidbit of good news.

Not any prettier but open:

https://www.bannergraphic.com/story/2861272.html

Regards,

Art S.

Bridge still closed as of October 20, 2019

Hopefully it will be refurbished, whatever the problem. The Cooper Iron bridge, also in Putnam (pictured), was blocked off with mounds of rock on either end before it was repaired. Here's hoping!

It is circa 1915. According to Iron Monuments to Distant Posterity, Indiana's Metal Bridges, 1870-1930, James L. Cooper

This bridge is Putnam #45, crosses Big Walnut Creek on 900 E. aka County Line Road between, SR 236 and SR 36. Photos taken fall of 2005.