Down the Road

Photographs and stories by Jim Grey

Since 2007

single frame: The Rainbow Bridge in Broad Ripple

Jim Grey
5 comments on single frame: The Rainbow Bridge in Broad Ripple
1 minute
, , , ,
Rainbow Bridge

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.

If you’d like to get more of my photography in your inbox or reader, click here to subscribe.

Comments

5 responses to “single frame: The Rainbow Bridge in Broad Ripple”

  1. Marc Beebe Avatar
    Marc Beebe

    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!

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      Oh yes. Many. Here’s the first one I found in my Bridges album on Flickr, of the Roebling suspension bridge in Cincinnati.

      Roebling Bridge

      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.

      Reply
  2. Jim Grey Avatar
    Jim Grey

    Oh yes. Many. Here’s the first one I found in my Bridges album on Flickr, of the Roebling suspension bridge in Cincinnati.

    Roebling Bridge

    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.

    Reply
  3. Read.Count.Craftmel Avatar
    Read.Count.Craftmel

    that colorful shape bridges like this even exist made my whole day!

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      Mine too! I love going over there to see it.

      Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d