| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor |
| Triple Whipple Bridge
Laughery Creek Bridge | IN-56 (Old Alignment) Over Laughery Creek | Buffalo (Rural): Dearborn County, Indiana and Ohio County, Indiana | Metal Pinned Triple Intersection Pratt Through Truss, Stationary | 1878 By: Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio |
| Technical Facts |
| Structure Length | Panel Length | Truss Height | Vertical Clearance | Roadway Width | Bridge Width | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 300 Feet (91.44 Meters) | 14.2 Feet (4.3 Meters) | 40 Feet (12.2 Meters) | 21 Feet (6.5 Meters) | 17 Feet (5.2 Meters) | 22.2 Feet (6.76 Meters) | 1 | None |
This impressive bridge has been closed to traffic for years, but a project to restore this bridge for pedestrian use is in the works!
This bridge is among the most spectacular and impressive historic bridges standing today. This bridge is a fitting monument to the most prolific of pin connected metal truss bridge companies, the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio. The Wrought Iron Bridge Company apparently was noted for having a close relationship with the Whipple truss design, also known as the double-intersection Pratt design. Many Whipple trusses that survive today were built by the company. They apparently decided to take that to the next level with this bridge, which is actually a triple intersection Pratt truss, which earned it the nickname "Triple Whipple Bridge." The idea of the Whipple, and indeed the Triple Whipple was that the additional diagonals allowed for a longer span. Such was the case with the Triple Whipple Bridge, whose unique design allowed for an impressive single 300 foot crossing of Laughery Creek, which is not so creek-like by the time it reaches the Ohio River, which is near to this bridge. To stand before the portal of this bridge is to stand before a giant. While later bridges might have been larger, an 1800s pin connected trapezoidal shaped truss bridge just wasn't built this big very often. For a bridge of this design, this is one tall bridge, and it is very impressive to look at. The trusses are 40 feet tall, as tall as a small pony truss is long. Due to the impressive span length, the top chord and end posts are enormous for a bridge of this time, and look more like something from a rail bridge. The end post and top chord is over two feet wide. There is extensive v-lacing and lattice on this bridge's built-up members and chords. The sway and portal bracing on the bridge is extensive, due to the height of the trusses. The railings are mostly destroyed, but a few sections, composed of four poles, remain. It is unclear if these are original, but they are indeed very old. The deck was obviously redone at some point, probably mid-20th century, with concrete. The bridge sits on stone abutments which date to the preceding bridge's construction in 1867. The bridge has 21 panels.
This bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The entry listed Green, William & Company along with the Wrought Iron Bridge Company as being involved with the construction of the the bridge.
Anyone who visits this bridge (or looks at the photos) should immediately notice a tragedy, which is apparent when observing what was used to block off this bridge. There are two V-laced vertical members from a pin connected through truss bridge, testifying to a tragedy done many years ago on an unknown bridge. Reusing these for blocking off this bridge was better than throwing them in the dumpster though, and they make for a less ugly blocking method than other methods like modern Armco railings.
The significance of this bridge is without compare, is among the most important historic bridges in the country. The Triple Whipple Bridge was built in 1878, and on that alone it is significant. It is significant as a unique truss configuration, and is actually the only remaining example utilizing a triple intersection Pratt remaining. Not only is this bridge old, it is large! Any 300 foot span dating to before 1900 is very noteworthy. The bridge is associated with a prolific bridge company, the Wrought Iron Bridge Company, and it is a large and unique structure that is a lasting monument to the company's ingenuity and resourcefulness. Finally, the aesthetic value of this bridge must also be reviewed. With extensive v-lacing and lattice on the bridge, a complex visual geometric art formed from the unique truss design, and also decorative plaques and portal bracing, the bridge is certainly a beautiful bridge and thus important from that perspective as well.
