A new bridge for Greenways

Sunday, May 14, 2000

Indy Greenways and Broad Ripple Village have a new bridge! It will serve pedestrians using the Central Canal Towpath and is located next to the College Avenue auto bridge. The official opening is July 1 at 11 a.m.

Below: The largest crane in Indiana lowers the bridge into place on its abutments next to College Avenue. At left: The crane begins to lift the bridge off the transport buggies; workers guide the bridge into place; pedestrians cross the bridge before workers close it off to finish the installation; and the bridge stopped for Friday night outside Pendleton.

The official opening of the bridge will be July 1, after guardrails and the stone approaches are installed. Landscaping also is in progress.

The trip from the factory, Technomarine of Montreal, to Indianapolis was a lengthy one for the 25,000-pound structure. At 12 feet tall, 13 feet wide and 110 feet long, the bridge had to wind along secondary highways to avoid overpasses. After traveling through Ontario and Michigan, its route in Indiana took it through the towns of Milford, Silver Lake, Plum Tree, Montpelier, Deerfield, Modoc, Losantville and Sulphur Springs.

The truck drivers, Yvon and Rene (below), measured the trip in turns, not miles. The bridge was suspended between two four-axle articulated "buggies." Yvon drove the truck tractor pulling the front buggy while Rene drove a support vehicle and operated the rear buggy by remote control. At each corner, Yvon began the corner with the front buggy while Rene steered the rear buggy forward into the corner and then turned. The pair mastered 30 turns in Quebec, 40 in Ontario (including one near 180 degrees), 12 in Michigan and 28 in Indiana. On the highway, they locked the rear buggy in place.