Cedar Grove Bridge Will Meet Its Fate Wednesday

By Mike Perleberg The 1914 Cedar Grove Bridge over the Whitewater River will be demolished on Wednesday, February 17. Photo by Friends of the Cedar Grove Bridge. (Cedar Grove, Ind.) - Despite efforts in the past to save it, a long-unused bridge in Cedar Grove will come down this week. The Indiana Department of Transportation announced Monday that the Old State Road 1 steel truss bridge - built in 1914 - at the Whitewater River will be taken down Wednesday morning, February 17. According to INDOT, the World War II-era, two-span structure located a half mile south of U.S. 52 near Cedar Grove closed to traffic more than 25 years ago. However, just two years ago Indiana Landmarks had the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. A group called Friends of the Cedar Grove Bridge were instrumental in getting the bridge designated a historic landmark. But the designation has not been enough to spare the structure, which has deteriorated since it closed in 1999. Franklin County and state transportation officials have viewed the bridge as a hazard and liability. Beaty Construction of Boggstown has been contracted by INDOT to demolish the bridge and remove its center pier. INDOT says the company has made severance cuts at strategic locations to aid in bringing the structure down. “Shape” charges that create blasts of extreme heat will be detonated by an explosives team at approximately 10:00 a.m. Wednesday. Anybody hoping to witness the blast might have a tough time getting a good look at it. Police will be onsite to enforce a half-mile safe zone prohibiting and protecting onlookers from getting too close. RELATED STORIES: Facing Demo, Cedar Grove Bridge Added To National Historic Places List Cedar Grove Bridge Marked For Demolition Franklin Co. Declines Offer For Old 1, Bridge Can The Cedar Grove Bridge Be Saved?