Fall Creek (Meridian Street) Bridge

The Fall Creek Bridge carries Meridian Street over Fall Creek in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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The Fall Creek Bridge carries Meridian Street over Fall Creek in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 1876, Marion County awarded a contract to the Cleveland Bridge & Iron Company to construct a 200-foot through-truss bridge over Fall Creek on the Meridian Street extension. The bridge was completed in 1879. ³

In 1899, Indianapolis launched a program to replace its aging steel and iron bridges with more durable stone and concrete spans. ¹ The first targeted bridges included those on Meridian and Illinois streets over Fall Creek. Designed by Henry W. Klaussman, the new Meridian Street Bridge featured stone-faced concrete with Melan arches—rigid truss arches made of iron, a design pioneered by Austrian engineer Josef Melan. ^{1 3}

On March 25, 1913, the Meridian Street Bridge sustained severe damage during a major flood. ^{1 4} Despite the damage, it remained in use until a temporary bridge was built at Pennsylvania Street. ^{5 8}

On November 5, 1915, the Board of Public Works signed a $146,378 contract with the Dunn-McCarty Company to construct a new bridge. ⁵ The city agreed to pay $75,000, with the county covering the remaining cost. City engineer B. J. T. Jeup prepared the final design plans.

The replacement was a reinforced concrete, closed-spandrel arch bridge built by the Dunn-McCarty Company which was completed at the cost of $146,378. Designed by George Edward Kessler in the Neo-Classical style, ^{1 2 3} it was inspired by the Victor Emmanuel Bridge over the Tiber River in Rome. Architectural details included decorative medallions, balustrade lamps, and flower boxes.

The new Meridian Street Bridge was dedicated on September 23, 1917. ^{7 8} A milk wagon was the first vehicle to cross the bridge. ⁸

The project also involved widening Fall Creek from the first alley east of Pennsylvania Street to Illinois Street to increase the waterway capacity under the new bridge. ⁶ Approximately 60,000 cubic yards of dirt were removed from the creek’s south bank, and a concrete retaining wall was constructed. The estimated cost for this work was $100,000, divided among the city (45%), the county (45%), and property owners benefiting from the improvements. A contract was awarded in September 1916, with work completed in 1917.

The bridge underwent rehabilitation in 1988. In 1991, it was renamed the Joseph W. Summers Memorial Bridge in honor of State Representative Joseph Summers. ²

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Details

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Sources

1. Zeigler, Connie J. and Elizabeth J. Van Allen. “Fall Creek Bridges.” Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, Jun. 2021.
2. Holth, Nathan. “Meridian Street Bridge.” HistoricBridges.org, 21 Sept. 2019.
3. Cooper, James L. “Meridian Street Bridge.” Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 1988.
4. “Part of Meridian Street Bridge if Swept Out.” Indianapolis News, 26 Mar. 1913, p. 14.
5. “Bridge Contract Signed.” Independent News, 5 Nov. 1915, p. 3.
6. “Plans for the Widening of Fall Creek Adopted.” Indianapolis News, 1 Sept. 1916, pp. 1-22.
7. “Plans Celebration of Completion of Bridge.” Indianapolis News, 7 Sept. 1917, p. 1.
8. “Milk Wagon First to Cross the New Bridge.” Indianapolis News, 24 Sept. 1917, p. 10.