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Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
Belles Branch Road Bridge |
Truss |
Belles Branch Road |
Dearborn County / Ohio County, IN |
Rural |
Laughery Creek |
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Technical Facts |
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Construction Date |
Structure Length | Main Span Length | Vertical Clearance | Roadway Width | Builder |
| 1916 | 146.9 Feet | 142 Feet | 13.6 Feet | 17 Feet | Oregonia Bridge Company of Lebanon, OH |
This bridge is known locally as the "Lost Bridge."
With a 1916 construction date, this is a relatively late example of a pin connected truss bridge that still looks like it came out of the 1890s. This is a very scenic bridge in a very scenic location and is well worth the drive out here. There is v-lacing on the vertical members and under the top chord / end port, and lattice is on the sway bracing, as well as on the portal bracing. Also, original lattice railings remain on the bridge. I found Cambria steel stamps on the bridge. The deck of the bridge is wooden and the bridge sits on concrete abutments. One unusual thing i noted with the bridge is that the deck seemed like it was higher than usual in relation to the feet of the bridge. It was high enough that a small stringer approach is present at the end to lead to the surface beyond the bridge.
