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McCloud Nature Park Bridge

The McCloud Nature Park Bridge spans Big Walnut Creek within McCloud Nature Park, located in Hendricks County, Indiana.



The McCloud Nature Park Bridge spans Big Walnut Creek within McCloud Nature Park, located in Hendricks County, Indiana.

Originally built in 1913 by the F.M. Williams Construction Company of Winamac, Pulaski County Bridge No. 15 was a bolt-connected Warren through truss bridge designed to span the Big Monon Ditch along County Road 700 South in Pulaski County. 1 2 The bridge was closed to traffic in January 1980 due to structural deterioration. 3

In 2006, plans to dismantle and sell the bridge for scrap were halted when Indiana bridge historian Dr. James L. Cooper of DePauw University intervened. 4 Dr. Cooper enlisted John Camden of the John T. Camden Construction Company to dismantle and store the bridge. Camden purchased it from the county for $10.

Meanwhile, McCloud Nature Park, established in 2003 along Big Walnut Creek in Hendricks County, lacked a bridge to connect its northern section. 4 The park spans 232 acres and features diverse landscapes, a wetland habitat, an arboretum, seven miles of trails, and a Nature Center. Indiana Landmarks recommended repurposing the stored Pulaski County Bridge No. 15 to provide pedestrian and maintenance vehicle access, uniting the two sections of the park.

In 2009, the county hired James Barker of J.A. Barker Engineering to oversee the project. 4 The 15-ton disassembled bridge was transported to McCloud Nature Park, where Camden and his team reassembled it, replaced irreparable components, and repainted the structure. Restoration concluded in 2010, with the bridge lifted by crane and placed onto its supports.

On May 21, 2010, the rehabilitated bridge was rededicated at McCloud Nature Park. 1 To span the valley, an additional 110 feet of bridge were constructed, connecting trails on both sides of Big Walnut Creek.

Initially, the bridge featured a decking of white oak timbers. 4 However, by 2018, the decking had warped and bowed. Park manager Jim Holtsclaw devised a cost-effective plan to replace the decking while keeping the bridge operational. Over the winter of 2018-19, the park maintenance crew completed the replacement at a cost of $15,000, funded by a private donation—significantly less than the $100,000 initially estimated for repairs.


Details

  • State: Indiana
  • Route: N/A
  • Status: Active (Pedestrian)
  • Type: Warren Through Truss
  • Total Length: 120' (1913); 230' (2010)
  • Main Span Length: 116' (1913)
  • Spans: 0
  • Deck Width: 14' (1913)
  • Roadway Width: 0
  • Height of Structure: 0
  • Above Vertical Clearance: 17.7' (1913)
  • Navigational Clearance: 0


Sources

  1. Historic Bridge Grand Opening Festival.” McCloud Nature Park, 2010.
  2. Cooper, James L. “Pulaski County Bridge No. 15 – 1984.” National Park Service, 1984.
  3. “Pulaski Board Signs Several Contracts.” Pharos-Tribune, 24 Jan. 1980, p. 6.
  4. Interperative signage.

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