On a warm November evening, I walked along Fall Creek to photograph three of Indianapolis’ bridges.
I began at the construction site of the 16 Tech Bridge, a unique suspension bridge currently being built. When completed, it will connect West 10th Street and Riley Hospital Drive.
The bridge features an innovative design with a fan-like arrangement of smaller masts rather than a single vertical mast. Flat steel plates serve as the main supports, replacing traditional suspension cables while accommodating the unconventional mast configuration. It will be the first bridge of its kind in the United States.
Construction began in March 2023 and is expected to be completed in early 2025.
Nearby stands the Dr. Beurt SerVaas Suspension Bridge, completed in 1999 as part of the Indianapolis Greenways project along the Fall Creek and White River trails. This wire suspension bridge features a 100-foot-tall Corten steel tower.
Further upstream is the Meridian Street Bridge, a reinforced concrete, closed-spandrel arch built between 1915 and 1917 by the Dunn-McCarty Company. Designed by George Edward Kessler in the Neo-Classical style, it includes decorative medallions, balustrade lamps, and flower boxes.
The Meridian Street Bridge replaced an earlier arch bridge that partially collapsed during a major flood on March 25, 1913. The earlier span remained in use until its replacement and was part of a city initiative to upgrade aging steel and iron bridges with durable stone and concrete structures. Before that, a Cleveland Bridge & Iron Company through truss bridge occupied the site from 1879 to 1899.
Together, these bridges reflect Indianapolis’ evolving infrastructure, blending historical design with modern innovation. They showcase the city’s commitment to preserving its architectural heritage while embracing forward-thinking engineering.