Hutsonville Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hutsonville Bridge |
|
|---|---|
Looking southwest from the Indiana side
|
|
| Coordinates | 39°06′36″N 87°39′18″W / 39.11000°N 87.65500°W |
| Carries | Former Illinois Route 135/Indiana State Road 154 |
| Crosses | Wabash River |
| Locale | Hutsonville, Crawford County, Illinois/Graysville, Sullivan County, Indiana |
| Maintained by | Indiana Department of Transportation (former) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Self-anchored suspension bridge |
| Total length | 1,002 feet (305 m) |
| Width | 2 lanes, 20 feet (6.1 m) |
| Height | 70.2 feet (21.4 m) |
| Longest span | 350 feet (110 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | November 18, 1939 |
| Closed | 1988 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | vehicular, unknown |
The Hutsonville Bridge was a special bridge that crossed the Wabash River. It connected Hutsonville, Illinois (in Crawford County, Illinois) with Graysville, Indiana (in Sullivan County, Indiana). This bridge was built in 1939 and was used for cars.
What made the Hutsonville Bridge unique was its design. It was a rare type called a self-anchored suspension bridge. This means the main cables that hold up the bridge were anchored to the bridge deck itself, not to the ground. The bridge was designed by a famous company called Robinson & Steinman. It was replaced in 1988 because of problems with its design.
A Unique Bridge Design
The Hutsonville Bridge was special because it used a rare design. It was a "self-anchored suspension bridge." In this type of bridge, the big cables that usually hang from towers and hold up the bridge deck are connected to the ends of the bridge deck itself. This is different from most suspension bridges, where the cables are anchored deep into the ground.
Instead of one very thick cable, this bridge used many separate cables. These cables helped to hold up the road part of the bridge. This design was not very common.
Why the Bridge Was Replaced
The Hutsonville Bridge was considered important because its design was so rare. In 1987, it was even thought to be worthy of being on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places that are important to history.
However, despite its unique design, the bridge had problems. It was replaced and taken down in 1988. The new bridge built in its place is made of concrete and stands on pillars, which is a more common design.
The Demolition Controversy
Taking down the Hutsonville Bridge was a big discussion. Some people wanted to save it because it was so rare. A company that was hired to tear down the bridge even offered to give up their payment if the bridge could be saved.
People who lived nearby agreed that they wanted to save the bridge. But officials from Indiana thought the bridge's design was not very good. They said it caused many problems from the day it was finished. They wanted the "headache" of the bridge to be gone. So, even though it was unique, the bridge was eventually taken down.
