 1939 Sullivan-Hutsonville
- Hutsonville, Illinois and Sullivan, Indiana, USA (Wabash River)
Steinman & Robinson, R.V. Milbank, Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Co., Charles J. Glasgow
References
| | Location: | N 39.1101 W 87.6551 | | Maps: | MapQuest, Acme | | Use: | Vehicular (two-lane, with walkway) | | Status: | Demolished, 1989 | | Main cables: | Wire (steel) | | Suspended spans: | 3 | | Main span: | 350f | | Side spans: | 2 x 150f | | Deck width: | 20f |
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- Notes
- Demolished 1989. This bridge was Steinman's attempt at a self-anchored suspension bridge and met a controversial demise in 1989. An article in the September 26, 1988 issue of the Springfield, IL "The State Journal-Register" describes the ongoing controversy. The company to which the $100,000 demolition contract was let offered to turn the money over to save the bridge. The locals agreed, but the company's Chief Engineer Stephen Schneider was quoted, "I think Indiana really wants to tear it down. They've been ... forced to send inspectors out every two weeks. I think they just want the headache gone." Gary Abell, spokesman for the Indiana Dept. Of Highways said its design is "not one of the best. It works in theory, but not in practice. This is like trying to save a mistake." After a lot of back-and-forth, the locals gave up, "We've had it with them. We don't want anything more to do with it. They can tear the damn thing down." Animosity toward this bridge continues 13 years after its demolition. In 2002, in an email to Wayne Grodkiewicz (who provided me with much information about this bridge), an INDOT representative said, "I am not sure why you are interested in that bridge, but from our stand point, it was a very poorly designed bridge that had many many problems from the day that it was completed, until it was brought down."
- See www.bridgehunter.com: Historic Bridges of the United States | Hutsonville Bridge | Crawford County, Illinois.
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