Gateway Arch Bridge

The Gateway Arch Bridge is a steel arch suspension structure spanning Indiana State Road 46 on Interstate 65 in Columbus, Indiana.

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The Gateway Arch Bridge is a steel arch suspension structure spanning Indiana State Road 46 (Jonathan Moore Pike) along Interstate 65 in Columbus, Indiana.

Improvements to Columbus’s transportation and open space infrastructure fostered collaboration among architecture, engineering, and landscape design professionals. ⁴ This multidisciplinary approach guided streetscaping and transportation enhancements aimed at creating a welcoming “Front Door” linking downtown to the interstate.

The Front Door project sought to blend built and natural elements, following the corridor established by the 1976 Bicentennial willow planting design. ⁴ Intensive on-site public working sessions allowed the design team to refine concepts with input from state and city officials, affected property owners, and the public. The primary goals included improving traffic flow and safety for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists while transforming a harsh highway environment into a parkway experience.

On August 13, 1993, an open meeting introduced the $46.5 million Front Door Project to Columbus-area residents. ^{1 2} The project included several key components: a new single-point interchange featuring a $23 million cable-stayed arch bridge at Interstate 65 and Indiana State Road 46, replacing the existing diamond interchange and steel girder bridge; construction of the Second Street Bridge for inbound traffic; rehabilitation of the Tipton Bridge for outbound traffic; widening Jonathan Moore Pike to four lanes; adding protected shared-use paths; replacing willow trees and enhancing landscaping; and installing new light poles. Federal funds covered 80% of the project costs, with state and local funds contributing the remaining 20%.

Designed by J. Muller International, ⁴ construction of the 292-foot-long bridge began in July 1995 and was completed on November 26, 1996. ¹ The bridge features transverse box girder floor beams suspended by cable-stay hangers from steel basket-handle arches. ⁴ This design enabled a clear span accommodating both vehicular traffic and a multi-use path. A conventional bridge was not feasible due to the span’s required length, making a cable-stayed bridge the most cost-effective solution.

Awards and honors bestowed upon the bridge include: ⁴

• Award of Excellence, Federal Highway Administration in 1998
• Most Innovative Structure, Annual Excellence in Structural Engineering Design Competition, Structural Engineers Association of Illinois in 1998
• Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award, Indiana Society of Professional Engineers in 1998
• Merit Award, American Institute of Steel Construction
• Outstanding Achievement Award for Concrete Construction, Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association

Following an inspection that revealed potential corrosion in the suspension cables, the bridge’s weight limit was reduced, and a supplemental hanger system was installed in January 2023. ² The corrosion was caused by road salt exposure and moisture trapped in the cable sheaths. ¹ In July, the bridge underwent further rehabilitation of the hanger system.

The long-term future of the Gateway Arch Bridge remains uncertain as the Indiana Department of Transportation has initiated a project to widen Interstate 65 from four to six lanes between Indianapolis and Louisville. ³ Since the Gateway Arch Bridge accommodates only four lanes with no capacity for expansion, its future configuration is under review. Four design firms—Browning Day, BSA Life Structures, haptiK\B, and Louis Joyner Architect LLC—have been engaged to collaborate with local architecture students to develop proposals for the bridge’s potential redesign or replacement.

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Details

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Sources

1. Webber, Mark. “‘Gateway’ bridge repairs are to replace cables.” The Tribune, 20 Jul. 2023.
2. Webber, Mark. “INDOT adding more bridge hangers due to corrosion.” The Republic, 4 Jan. 2023.
3. Wiersema, Jana. “Design firms, architecture students brainstorm widening I-65 arch bridge over State Road 46.” The Republic, 23 Feb. 2022.
4. “MODERNISM IN BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY, INDIANA, FROM 1942.” National Park Service.