| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor |
| Indiana Avenue Bridge | Indiana Avenue Over Elkhart River | Goshen: Elkhart County, Indiana | Metal Pinned Pennsylvania Through Truss, Stationary | 1898 By: Bellefontaine Bridge and Iron Works of Bellefontaine, Ohio |
| Technical Facts |
| Rehabilitation Date | Structure Length | Main Span Length | Vertical Clearance | Roadway Width | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 1986 | 184 Feet (56.1 Meters) | 173.8 Feet (53 Meters) | 16.2 Feet (4.9 Meters) | 23 Feet (7 Meters) | 1 | None |
This bridge is inarguably the most beautiful and impressive bridge in all of Elkhart county, and probably beyond. It showcases everything that makes a truss bridge spectacular, and is well worth a visit. It certainly is the crown jewel of the city of Goshen. The Indiana Avenue bridge received a 1986 restoration. The bridge could use a fresh coat of paint however, as its green paint is showing a lot of rust.
This bridge is a through truss bridge, specifically a Pennsylvania truss bridge. It was built in 1898 and received a restoration in 1986. This special modification of the Pratt through design features the Parker shape as well as additional members added beyond the Pratt design. This particular bridge features an a top chord that runs horizontal longer than usual, giving the bridge a somewhat unusual appearance. Connections on the bridge are pinned. The bridge is composed of twelve panels. Railings on the roadway portion of the bridge are not original. Original pedestrian guardrails remain however, in the form of lattice guardrails, which are supported by small outriggers. These lattice guardrails feature decorative flower rivets in the center. The end posts for these railings are quite decorative as well. The sidewalks on each side of the bridge are cantilevered, and have a concrete deck. They may have originally had a wooden deck. The roadway deck is steel grate, and may have also been wood originally. V-lacing is extensive on the bridge: on the sway bracing, vertical members, under the top chord, and also on the short horizontal members on the bridge. Eyebars that are present on the bridge are the up-set type. The bridge features ornate steel decorations on top of its portal bracing, as well as round finials on top of the end posts. The bridge is seated on cut stone abutments. The bridge has a posted weight limit of twelve tons for all vehicles.
This bridge has everything that makes a truss bridge great. It is old, with an 1898 construction date, and based on that alone is historic. The v-lacing and complex Pennsylvania configuration of this bridge make a complex geometric beauty that is repeated in no other bridge type. As if that were not enough, extensive ornate decorative treatments on the portal and railings add to the beauty. The through nature of the bridge makes the bridge large and noticeable, making the crossing of the river an exciting experience, more interesting than the rest of the roadway. The people in charge of this bridge made the right choice in preserving it in 1986. It is important that they continue to stand by that decision and maintain this bridge for future generations to enjoy. Few truss bridges are as beautiful as this bridge, and the fact that there are so few truss bridges in this area of Indiana make it even more important, from a regional perspective. Goshen is lucky to be blessed with such a unique structure.
This bridge was finally officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 9, 2005, although it had been considered eligible for years prior to that.
