Jackson County Seeks Bridge Funds

 

Brownstown, IN, May 19, 2006 - The Jackson County commissioners will seek federal money to restore all three of the County's covered bridges, which include the Shieldstown Bridge, the Bell's Ford Bridge, and the Medora Bridge.

The county park board wants to seek 100 percent funding from the 2008 federal budget for historic bridge restoration.

Commissioner President Gary Darlage would not agree to any more on the Bell Ford Bridge: "There is nothing left of the Bell Ford Bridge and I will not spend another tax dollar on it. Ninety percent of the people in this county think it is asinine to even consider rebuilding that bridge."

The three bridges were built to span the East Fork of the White River. The 331-foot, two span Shieldstown Bridge was built in 1876 using a Burr Truss. The 434-foot, three span Medora Bridge was built in 1875, also using the Burr-type truss.

The 330-foot, two span Bell's Ford bridge collapsed into White River January 2, 2006 and has been removed. It was built in 1869 using a truss designed by Simeon S. Post, an iron truss combination with wood.

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