US41 Pigeon Creek Bridge
Facts
- Overview
- Lost through truss bridge over Pigeon Creek on Southbound US 41 in Evansville
- Location
- Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana
- Status
- Demolished August 2021
- Future prospects
- Gone.
- History
- Built ca. 1940; rehabilitated 1970; rehabilitated 2019; severely damaged by truck 2020, demolished 2021
- Design
- Riveted, 9-panel Parker through truss
- Dimensions
-
Length of largest span: 197.8 ft.
Total length: 200.7 ft.
Deck width: 25.9 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 14.8 ft.
- Recognition
- Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +38.00417, -87.53861 (decimal degrees)
38°00'15" N, 87°32'19" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/452713/4206414 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Evansville North
- Average daily traffic (as of 2004)
- 21,929
- Inventory numbers
- INNBI 014310 (Indiana bridge number on the National Bridge Inventory)
BH 17132 (Bridgehunter.com ID) - Inspection report (as of July 2017)
- Overall condition: Poor
Superstructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Deck condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 39.1 (out of 100)
View more at BridgeReports.com
Update Log
- August 13, 2021: New photos from Grant DiDomizio
- August 12, 2021: New photo from Garrett DiDomizio
- August 12, 2021: New photo from Grant DiDomizio
- December 29, 2020: Updated by Garrett DiDomizio: Given what INDOT has to say about the future of the bridge, it’s continued existence is doubtful at best
- December 1, 2020: Updated by David Backlin: Available for adaptive reuse
- October 19, 2020: New photo from Garrett DiDomizio
- July 28, 2020: Updated by Nathan Holth: This bridge is closed, and will either be demolished or put in storage.
- October 10, 2018: New video from Mike Daffron
- September 16, 2018: New photos from Mike Daffron
- March 25, 2017: New photos from Mike Daffron
- September 19, 2016: New photos from Jack Schmidt
- April 16, 2010: New Street View added by James Baughn
- February 23, 2010: New photos from J.P.
- March 31, 2009: New photos from James McCray
Sources
- James McCray - jamesinslocomb [at] yahoo [dot] com
- J.P. - wildcatjon2000 [at] gmail [dot] com
- Jack Schmidt - jjturtle [at] earthlink [dot] net
- Mike Daffron - daffmikron [at] gmail [dot] com
- Nathan Holth
- Garrett DiDomizio - garrettdidomizio [at] gmail [dot] com
- David Backlin - us71 [at] cox [dot] net
- Grant DiDomizio - grantdidomizio [at] gmail [dot] com
Comments
I was nauseated seeing those photos
Yeah, I know. Certainly a waste. Hopefully it will set a precedent for better measures to protect bridges like this in the future
A-holes. I wonder why this bridge couldn't be used somewhere else in Evansville? Like a park or even Mesker Zoo?
Looks like she is done for now. Just a twisted wreckage of metal. I’ll try to snap some pics if I can
Looks like we’re in the final days of this bridge’s life, with the replacement process scheduled to start June 21, 2021 according to this article: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.courierpress.com/amp/759775... . What happened to this bridge is so frustrating and I will really miss seeing it as an Evansvillian. Definitely a huge loss for our local cultural heritage!
I'm thrilled I was able to drive across this last summer. I'll miss seeing it when I'm in Evansville.
Actually we had a good Section 106 Mitigation outcome with this bridge, although this bridge is not being saved, INDOT will be doing an in-depth study with the goal of identifying methods and opportunities to protect historic bridges with low clearance. Several INDOT owned bridges are also specifically highlighted for particular consideration of some form of protection. So I feel this is a step forward. See attached pages from the MOA.
Unfortunate... But yet not surprising.
Just another instance where headache bars would solve a glaring problem. But I doubt that INDOT would ever consider using them.
INDOT has decided to replace this bridge. They're planning to let the contract in the spring of 2021, with construction to begin in the summer of 2021.
https://www.wevv.com/content/news/US-41-Pigeon-Creek-Bridge-...
Per INDOT,
https://www.in.gov/indot/2565.htm
Here’s hoping this lovely bridge can be preserved somehow! Driving by it in such a state these past months has been very saddening, and I’d hate to see if gone forever.
The bridge was actually scheduled to be replaced several years ago, but was rehabbed instead. I'm not surprised that INDOT didn't want to repair it. Hopefully they will dismantle it and at least it will have a chance of being reused.
Mike, Mesker Park Zoo is an Excellent suggestion!
Well, Nathan, that is bad news, but not unexpected. Hope it gets saved and put in a park in Evansville. It would be great in Mesker Park zoo.
Unfortunately the bridge was hit by an oversized truck and will now be closed for repair or possible demolition and replacement. Hopefully it will be saved....
The bridge was hit by an oversized load yesterday.
https://www.14news.com/2020/01/21/traffic-alert-hwy-southbou...
Yay Pigeon Creek! Hope you took a ride on the Twin Bridges and all the other goodies in Eville!
It's a Beautiful 95 degree day here in Evansville and I had the pleasure of driving across this bridge. The bridge is Sky Blue and looks Amazing.
Always good to hear of INDOT doing the right thing and saving it's remaining Parker truss spans!
Great News!! Now go save both the Twin Bridges!!
Yay ! Can't wait for my next trip to Evansville!
The rehabilitation work has been completed, and the bridge has been reopened to traffic.
This bridge is now closed for rehabilitation. Traffic will be detoured using the adjacent exit ramp and a newly paved section of roadway to get traffic south of the bridge. The bridge will remain closed through the summer of next year, and local media has been alerting motorists. The rehabilitation will include a new bridge deck, barrier walls meeting current code, replacing severely deteriorated members and components, and a full cleaning and repainting.
I can confirm that the bridge rehabilitation contract has been awarded and that the pre-construction conference meeting has been scheduled. I suspect that construction activities will be starting shortly thereafter. The maintenance of traffic for Southbound US 41 during construction will likely be challenging for motorists; I hope that they will be patient, plan ahead, and give themselves extra travel time.
There are no news articles or press releases; in my responsibilities as the Vincennes District Bridge Inspection Supervisor, I coordinate our inspection findings with the project managers who establish budget planning and proposed scopes of work. Contract plans and specs are done and this rehabilitation was already scheduled for letting earlier this year; contractors are likely working on their bid packages. This bridge is to get a new deck and heavily deteriorated steel components will get replaced in-kind.
GREAT! Tell us about it!!! :-D Do you have an article?
Great news!!!
This bridge is not scheduled to be dismantled. This bridge is scheduled for a comprehensive rehabilitation project.
This Parker truss is slated to be dismantled according to the Indiana D.O.T.'s website regarding their historic bridge program.
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/in/vanderburgh/14310/
So was I Melissa.
It was a pleasant surprise when INDOT decided to restore it... Only to have an irresponsible idiot wreck it.