A LITTLE HISTORY

1930

 The bridge is built and run as a privately owned toll bridge.

1941

The Federal government buys the bridge and creates the White County Bridge Commission to own & manage the bridge until the tolls pay for the cost of construction. Then it should be given to the adjoining states or counties.

1941-2012

Many Bridge Commissioners and community activists sought solutions for transferring the ownership of the bridge to adjacent government entities and to identity more long-term sources of revenue for it's maintenance. Monumental efforts were put in by many including Dr. David Rice, but a long-term solution was never found for it's continued use as a 2-lane vehicular bridge.

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2012

During a normal inspection, needed repairs were identified that The White County Bridge Commission didn’t have the funds to complete- they had to vote to close the bridge.

2015

The bridge remained closed with no actionable options for funding to repair and re-open it. Then, the Regional Cities Initiative was launched by the state to fund quality of place projects that would attract and retain talent to live in Indiana. Lora Arneberg as a community volunteer, headed the effort to include the bridge as one of these project. It was chosen to be included in our Regions plans which made matching funds available to pursue the project.

2016 -2018

Lora worked with donors, IN Landmarks, the Regional Cities support team, VS Engineering,  the Louisville Big 4 bridge management team, TSW design, Ice Miller Legal Counsel, & our elected representatives to formulate a feasible path forward.  In 2018 a committee of other local volunteers was formed to help execute and refine the plan.

Learn more about the battle to save the bridge below in the hour documentary produced by University of Southern Indiana professor Dave Black.

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