Let’s return to my 2007 road trip along Old State Road 37 and the Dixie Highway between Indianapolis and Bloomington. Normally I’m just copying text and photos from my old road-trip site, but this time I have some new things to say.

After experiencing the exciting abandoned segment of Old State Road 37 north of Waverly, I got back into my car and drove the length of this segment as it crossed into Morgan County. It was paved and in good shape. I had it all to myself as it swayed gently through the countryside. I passed through the tiny town of Waverly on the way, but it didn’t interrupt the pleasure of this drive.

Old SR 37
Windows Live Local map, 2007

At the other end of this segment, the road curved to intersect with current SR 37, as the map shows. But a ridge is visible that extends from the old road. Spoiler alert: it’s abandoned road, and there’s an old bridge in there.

In 2020, SR 37 is becoming Interstate 69 between Indianapolis and Bloomington. It means widening the road, building exits, and closing all roads that currently intersect.

The section between Bloomington and about Martinsville is done. Work is just now beginning on the final section, from Martinsville to Indianapolis. When I made a trip to Bloomington in early March 2020, trees were being cleared the whole way.

About halfway to Martinsville, near the town of Waverly, I spotted it: an abandoned bridge, about 100 feet away. Trees had been reduced to stumps all around it, exposing it.

I know that bridge. I discovered it when I toured State Road 37’s old alignments in 2007. This bridge was on an abandoned part of the old alignment that ran through Waverly.

Here’s where the abandoned part of the old alignment begins, as it looked in 2007.

Old SR 37

I drove in.

Abandoned Old SR 37

I was surprised to find the bridge in there! It was heavily overgrown.

Abandoned bridge

I didn’t have anything to go on but the railing to date this bridge. That railing is typical of Indiana highway bridges from the 1920s and 1930s.

Abandoned bridge

Because modern SR 37 was close by, the predominant sound was of traffic. This old bridge was probably briefly visible to those who whizzed by, if they knew to look for it. I’ll bet hardly anybody knew it was there.

SR 37 from Old SR 37

The abandoned alignment ended shortly past the bridge. Notice the dirt path off its end, and the paved entrance/exit to SR 37 on the left. This led to someone’s house.

Abandoned Old SR 37

I’m betting it was whoever lived in that house who called the cops on me.

I had just finished making these photographs and was about to get back into my car when I saw the “Private Property, Keep Out” sign. Now, I heed “No Trespassing” and “Private Property” signs when I go exploring. I don’t want any trouble, and I empathize with property owners not wanting strangers traipsing around on their land. But this sign faced the road. You wouldn’t see it unless you stopped next to it and looked right at it, as I did.

I hoped that it meant only that the land behind it was private property. But when the police car arrived and hovered anxiously, I realized that this was not the case. The property owner probably called the cops on me. I turned around and hightailed it out of there. Fortunately, the officer let me be chased off.

I don’t know, but I imagine, that this relic of a highway era gone by will be demolished so that I-69 can be built.

Next: a short segment of the original alignment in Morgan County just north of Martinsville.

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Comments

9 responses to “Abandoned bridge on Old State Road 37 in Morgan County, Indiana”

  1. J P Avatar

    I would sooner take my chances with the cops than with the kind of people you might have encountered around that rotten couch near the trailer park of your last story.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Truth.

  2. brandib1977 Avatar

    Lol. I’m giggling at the idea of you being hauled off to the slammer for something as nerdy as our brand of adventuring. Glad you outran the long arm of the law! 😂

    1. brandib1977 Avatar

      Ps- thanks for the road trip!

    2. Jim Grey Avatar

      I think that deputy really didn’t want to deal with me and was glad when I drove away!

      1. brandib1977 Avatar

        I’m sure he had better things to do that day!

  3. […] via Abandoned bridge on Old State Road 37 in Morgan County, Indiana — Down the Road […]

  4. Cynthia Shreffler Avatar
    Cynthia Shreffler

    That bridge is my mom’s farm. The stumps are removed now, summer of 2021. Before Indiana 37 became a 4-lane, approximately 1961, that bridge was part of 37. The creek is called Crooked Creek. The No Trespassing sign was placed there by my father, who yes, would have pulled a shot gun on anyone trespassing, because trespassers were generally dumping trash. The Indiana State Highway Patrol use the 4-lane but also watch for any funny business. The bulls are taught to charge and follow their instinct. Animals know the sounds of the car and truck motors if the farmers who bring hay during the winter months. During the preparations for I-69, the Department of Natural Resources had to do a bat count at the bridge, since the habitat has been disturbed. A group of archaeologists from Cincinnati dug down at least 20 feet in the field. They discovered I end and utensils from the native American tribes that lived along Crooked Creek, tributary to White River. This is almost Green Township, but it is still Harrison Township, Mooresville School district. Hodges Farms. That”s me!!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Well, I’m glad I didn’t encounter your father, then. I thought the placement of the sign was odd, in that someone harmless like me driving in wouldn’t see it until they were already in there!

      Last time I drove through I didn’t see the bridge anymore. I could have missed it but it seems more likely that it’s been removed.

      I’ve been curious when 37 was four laned; thanks for putting a date to it!

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