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Middlebury Street Bridge

Elkhart County Bridge 371

Middlebury Street Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

Bridge Documented: Fall 2005 and April 20, 2014

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Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
Middlebury Street Over Elkhart River
Location
Elkhart: Elkhart County, Indiana: United States
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1931 By Builder/Contractor: Bontrager Construction Company and Engineer/Design: William S. Moore
Rehabilitation Date
1985
Main Span Length
50.0 Feet (15.2 Meters)
Structure Length
160.0 Feet (48.8 Meters)
Roadway Width
42 Feet (12.8 Meters)
Spans
3 Main Span(s)
Inventory Number
2000157

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
View Information About HSR Ratings

Bridge Documentation

View Archived National Bridge Inventory Report - Has Additional Details and Evaluation

This is one of several multi-span arch bridges in the city of Elkhart. This one has been heavily modified on the top, with ugly steel railings replacing the original concrete railings. The design of the original railings can be seen on the abutment sections of the bridge, where they still remain. The sidewalks on the Middlebury Street Bridge are cantilevered, as can be seen in the above photo. It would be nice to see this bridge rehabilitated with replica original railings put back on the bridge as has been done elsewhere in the area on other historic concrete arch bridges.

According to the plaque, this bridge was built in 1931 by Bontrager Construction Company. William S. Moore is listed as the engineer.

Information and Findings From DHPA Historic Bridge Survey

Statement of Significance

A noted regional engineer designed this structure, one of the very few built in Elkhart during the Depression. The bridge retains its architectural and structural integrity.

Architectural Description

As the Great Depression gripped the United States, Indiana's counties increasingly shifted their inadequate resources from construction to welfare. Many counties stopped building bridges altogether. The cities were more likely to continue a limited program of construction on high-priority sites. This bridge is one of approximately two dozen reinforced concrete filled-spandrel arches built in Indiana cities from 1930-1941.

Willima S. Moore desgined and Bontrager Construction Company built the 162' structure consisting of three 53' spans. All the rings are three-centered and quite flat. The central span is symmetrical and springs from 12' up on the piers. The outer rings are unsymmetrical and fuller towards the abutments where they spring from only 3' above the ground level. Cantilevered about 5' beyond the spandrel walls, brackets support eh concrete sidewalks which flank the 42' asphalt roadway. The original coped and balustraded parapet walls remain at the approaches but have been replaced with metal railings over the spans.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes


This bridge is tagged with the following special condition(s): Unorganized Photos

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Photo Galleries and Videos: Middlebury Street Bridge

 

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2005 Bridge Photo-Documentation

A collection of overview and detail photos. This photo gallery contains a combination of Original Size photos and Mobile Optimized photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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View Photo Gallery

2014 Additional Unorganized Photos

Original / Full Size Photos
A supplemental collection of photos that are from additional visit(s) to the bridge and have not been organized or captioned. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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View Photo Gallery

2014 Additional Unorganized Photos

Mobile Optimized Photos
A supplemental collection of photos that are from additional visit(s) to the bridge and have not been organized or captioned. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

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Maps and Links: Middlebury Street Bridge

Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):

Search For Additional Bridge Listings:

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

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