CR-175 South Bridge

Information and Findings From DHPA Historic Bridge Survey

Bridge History and Significance

This connector for Mineral City to the Bloomfield-Loogootee road may not have existed much before Richland Creek was spanned. Unfortunately the Greene County "Commissioners Record" is missing for the years around when the bridge was built. Fortunately, the Indiana Bridge Company's records provide us some considerable insight into the erection. In 1907, George M. Notter of Worthington ordered a pair of duplicate structures, one of which he likely erected over Richland Creek on concrete abutments and wing-walls that he had constructed. The hip-verticals of the 16-foot high, pin-connected Pratt through-truss span are hangers; the intermediate ones a pair of laced channels. A pair of die-forged eye-bars provide the diagonal sets for the second and fourth panels. Single, cylindrical rods with turnbuckles supply the diagonal and counter for the center panel. A braced-A portal, intermediate struts, and lateral bracing help to hold the trusses rigid against one. U-bolted to the lower pins, rolled I-floor-beams carry I-beam stringers and the timber roadway. Latticed rails line the trusses. An important bridge-building regional contractor built the substructure of this bridge and erected the superstructure. A prolific Hoosier fabricator used one of its standard designs for these fairly light trusses. The Indiana Bridge Co.'s erection plan for Notter is extant; the structure retains its original members, including latticed guardrails. References Butler, Fairman & Seufert, Inc., Bridge Inspection Report: Greene County (Indianapolis, 1974). M.W., Inc., Bridge Reinspection Report: Greene County (Indianapolis, 1978). United Consulting Engineers, Inc., Bridge Reinspection Report: Greene County (Indianapolis, 1981). Indiana Bridge Co. , contract #6132 or #6196; erection prints for George M. Notter, drawing #2279 (Drawings Archive, College of Architecture, Ball State University).

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes