Bike race won’t include Pinhook Bridge

Thursday, May 20, 2021
Closed since 2006, Pinhook Bridge will not be part of an upcoming bike race on Putnam County gravel roads.
Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Three bridges — one beyond saving, another closed for two years and a third about to be rehabbed — had the attention of the Putnam County Commissioners on Monday.

With ongoing questions about the viability of crossing Pinhook Bridge in an upcoming bicycle race, the county finally gave organizers a definitive “no.”

The bridge has been closed to automobile traffic since 2006, but recently came back on the Commissioners’ radar when cyclist and organizer Marc O’Leary came to the county with the proposal of the Dust Bowl Bike Race, set for July 24.

The big question was whether or not the race could cross the 110-year-old bridge on County Road 125 North over Big Walnut Creek.

Unfortunately, the cost of getting USI, which inspects bridges for the county, to answer such a question is a bit too high.

“Once they started researching, it’s been closed since ‘06,” Highway Supervisor Mike Ricketts said. “It would be $10,000-$20,000 for them to inspect. It’s not suitable for anything.”

“Then why is it still there?” Commissioner Rick Woodall asked.

“Because we can’t afford to take it out,” Ricketts countered.

Commissioner Tom Helmer noted that a USI representative had said the bridge could checked out as part of the county’s normal inspections. Ricketts said, though, that the bridge hasn’t been inspected since it was closed, meaning a routine look over would not do.

“Since it’s been closed that long, it hasn’t had the full inspections that the other bridges have had,” Ricketts said.

Fortunately, O’Leary was prepared for the possibility and already has another route proposed.

The Dust Bowl race will start and end in Eminence, but all but a few miles of the race will take place in Putnam County.

Regarding another closed bridge, the Commissioners gave approval to putting a gate across County Road 500 East in southern Floyd Township.

The road dead ends at Bridge 71, which was closed in early 2019. The southern section of the road should only get traffic from farmers, but an area landowner has noticed cars parking down the now-desolate road and the occupants partaking in elicit activities.

As such, he requested permission to place a gate at the south end of the road, with keys only given to the Putnam County Highway Department and nearby landowners.

The county will not be liable for the gate if it gets damaged.

Bridge 172 on Poland Road will close une 7 for rehabilitation.
Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Finally, Ricketts announced that Bridge 172 on Poland Road in Washington Township will be closed beginning on June 7 for the bridge to be rehabilitated.

Ricketts said the bridge will remain closed for up to 70 days.

In other business, the Commissioners:

• Approved an ordinance to create a fund for American Rescue Plan money.

The county is still unclear on the uses of the money, but continue to research, as the county will get around $7 million.

“I am getting a clearer picture of things this can and cannot be used for,” Woodall said. “This is not money that’s going to be spent quickly.”

The county has until the end of 2024 to allocate the money and until 2026 to actually complete any projects.

• Heard from Treasurer Tracy Bridges regarding the county’s microfilm at the Indiana State Archives.

The question is whether the county would like to turn over ownership of the microfilm to the state or maintain county ownership.

If the film is turned over, it could be destroyed at some point in the future. If not, there is a possibility that at some point the county could have to take the film back and provide a place to store it.

The state does not currently have a plan to enact either course of action.

Furthermore, the county has digital versions of all the microfilmed documents.

No decision was made and the county has until June 30 to decide.

• Approved a $200,000 road use agreement with the Wabash Valley Power Alliance.

WVPA has been working on a project for Hendricks Power to install large, metal power poles that are running from Hendricks County to the Heritage Lake area.

In doing the work, roads from northeast of New Maysville to Heritage Lake have or will be damaged by the trucks.

The money is to help the county with repair of the roads.

• Heard that the CSX Railroad Crossing north of Fillmore will be closed on May 24 and 25.

• Appointed David Heavin to the Cemetery Board position previously occupied by Steve Fenwick.

The next meeting of the Putnam County Commissioners is set for Monday, June 7 at 9 a.m. at the Putnam County Courthouse.

Comments
View 4 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • Tracy Bridges is the Recorder, not the Treasurer.

    -- Posted by jhartman on Fri, May 21, 2021, at 8:28 AM
  • It sounds like our county commissioners elected to forget about a closed bridge instead of keeping it on the inspection rolls. Chances are that decision will cost the taxpayers extra when action is finally taken.

    -- Posted by techphcy on Fri, May 21, 2021, at 11:55 AM
  • good eye hartman

    -- Posted by Falcon9 on Fri, May 21, 2021, at 2:52 PM
  • So sad to see these old bridges get to the point of not being able to be restored. They are such a part of history and small town life.

    -- Posted by Queen53 on Sat, May 22, 2021, at 5:38 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: