CEDAR GROVE, Ind. – With two quick cracks, the historic Cedar Grove Bridge crashed down into the Whitewater River Wednesday morning.
The bridge dated back to 1914, according to the National Register of Historic Places. Officials closed it to traffic in 1999 due to structural issues.
Bryan Wright, a civil engineer who helped develop the demolition plan, said the bridge was in such bad shape that a lower part of it had already broken free and needed to be stabilized before the bridge could be brought down.
“It’s a very pretty area, beautiful bridge,” Wright said. “It’s unfortunate when these have to come down. But sometimes we have to make these decisions when the bridge is in such a state of deterioration. It’s a safety hazard.”
Officials plan to plant greenery along the banks in the bridge’s place.
