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Cedar Ford Covered Bridge

The Cedar Ford Covered Bridge, a 127-foot Burr arch truss structure, is located in Monroe County, Indiana. Originally built in 1885 by the Kennedy Brothers in Shelby County, it carried German Road over the Little Blue River until 1975. That year, the Shelby County Historical Society relocated it to the county fairgrounds, where improper storage led to deterioration and vandalism.

In 1989, the bridge remnants were sold to Tracy Porter of Rushville, who intended to rebuild it on his property.

Monroe County officials began seeking a replacement for their last covered bridge in 2000. County Commissioner John Irvine identified the Cedar Ford remains as a candidate. Using funds from the Federal Highway Administration’s National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program and local contributions, the county launched a reconstruction project.

VS Engineering, led by Jim Barker, designed the project, salvaging original components. The bridge was relocated to Old Maple Grove Road over Bean Blossom Creek, near the former site of the McMillan Covered Bridge, which had been destroyed by arson in 1976.

Completed in May 2019 at a cost of $1.6 million, the bridge opened to public celebration on June 9.

Resources

From Interstate 69, take Exit 125 for Sample Road at Wayport. Drive west on West Sample Road for 0.7 miles. Continue straight onto West Simpson Chapel Road and proceed west for 1.2 miles. Then, continue west on North Bottom Road for 0.5 miles. Turn left onto North Maple Grove Road and follow it west for 1 mile.

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