The Rainbow Bridge in Broad Ripple
Pentax K1000, 55mm f/1.8 SMC Pentax
Kodak Gold 400
2017
This bridge was built in 1906 to carry Guilford Avenue over the Central Canal in Indianapolis’s Broad Ripple neighborhood.
Underneath the deck, it’s a typical single-span concrete arch. What sets this bridge apart is its railings. The oval “links” are unique.
I have a dim memory from 25 or more years ago of the railings being painted in a more random color pattern. I have a clear memory of this railing being much shorter — in about 2013 a row of block was added underneath the links. See a photo of the shorter railing here. This was probably done to make it harder to fall off the bridge into the canal.
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Have you ever encountered a ‘deckless’ or ‘glass’ bridge? They are a bit of an oddity in that the deck is made of a grate rather than solid material. This is to allow the water to flow through in rainy times. It actually makes the surface less dangerous by reducing the chances of hydroplaning. I remember there being on on River Road in Cuylerville, New York but I haven’t seen one anywhere else.
BTW I have my own personal bridge at our cabin. It’s made of four large logs across the creek and decked with landscape timbers. I should take a picture of it one day, although that could be tricky. Oh, a challenge!
Oh yes. Many. Here’s the first one I found in my Bridges album on Flickr, of the Roebling suspension bridge in Cincinnati.
I have mixed feelings about grated decks as I find that my car feels “floaty” on one, just like it does on a well-graveled road. I feel less in control. But I understand fully how it obviously aids drainage. With a solid deck you have to engineer in drainage.
Oh yes. Many. Here’s the first one I found in my Bridges album on Flickr, of the Roebling suspension bridge in Cincinnati.
I have mixed feelings about grated decks as I find that my car feels “floaty” on one, just like it does on a well-graveled road. I feel less in control. But I understand fully how it obviously aids drainage. With a solid deck you have to engineer in drainage.
that colorful shape bridges like this even exist made my whole day!
Mine too! I love going over there to see it.