This old double-arch concrete bridge lies slightly to the south of the current US-60/Shelbyville Road bridge. The age of it is unknown, but the current bridge appears to date from the 1990s. My guess is that this structure probably dates from the 1920s, give or take a little bit.
While the bridge is largely intact, the concrete is quite fragile. Pieces are obviously flaking off, and the bottom of the span is covered with tiny stalactites the have leeched out of the materials.
The deck has grown over with grass and ivy, like some lost Aztec city. The new span is visible to the right in this photo. It evokes a really strange feeling when walking on it.
The abutments of an older surface-level bridge are still in place south of the double-arch span. I believe this to be an steel truss road bridge, but this is only a guess. This is cut stone.
Even further to the south is the remains of a cast concrete abutment. This appears to be a rail bridge, as it is significantly higher than the other remains on the site. A total of four bridges have crossed at this location.
Another view of the cast concrete abutment. It stands 10-12 feet above the terrain.
A final view of the span, crumbling away slowly into the shallow creek it crosses.
A softshell turtle hiding in the water.
The concrete piers are from the old interurban railway crossing - photographs of its construction exist at the University of Louisville. The stone abutment is originally from a two span covered bridge - likely remnants of the pier still exist though these have been covered over by a small island that has formed in the middle of the creek. An iron truss replaced this covered bridge and was the bridge that was replaced by the concrete arch in, I believe, 1921.
ReplyDeleteWalter Laughlin
Hey I love exploring places like this is there anyway you could tell me it's location.
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