Friends of the Cedar Grove Bridge

(Brookville, Ind.) - Franklin County is telling the Indiana Department of Transportation “no thanks” when it comes to taking responsibility for a road and unused bridge.

County commissioners voted last week to decline an offer from INDOT to give the county the responsibility of a portion of Old State Road 1 and its bridge closed steel truss bridge over the Whitewater River in Cedar Grove, the Franklin County Observer reports.

INDOT offered $1.5 million to Franklin County over three years. However, the money wasn’t enough.

After some discussion among county leaders it was determined the amount would not cover the cost of rehabbing Old State Road 1 and maintaining the road in the future. Commissioners were also hoping the INDOT funds would be enough to help cover the installation of a new bridge on Duck Creek Road in the Metamora area.

INDOT has had plans to dismantle the Old State Road 1 steel truss bridge, but the non-profit Whitewater Canal Trail Association has voiced interest in taking ownership of the structure and making it part of the  canal trail. Now, the fate of the bridge - it closed to vehicles in 199 and has since been closed off to even pedestrians - is uncertain.

LINKS:

Can The Cedar Grove Bridge Be Saved?