On April 10, 2021 the Boone County Historical Society posted on its Facebook Page the pending demolition of the Scotland Bridge in Mechanicsburg, CR 200 E on the Boone-Clinton county line.
The bridge is one of the few true stone arch bridges remaining in Central Indiana but according to Boone County Highway Director Nick Parr, “Bridge 41 is by far the most dangerous, most hazardous stone bridge in the county.” The original rock safety railing was destroyed by pedestrians knocking out the rocks over the years. The deck is also too narrow for two lanes of traffic and too weak for the weight of modern farm machinery. Known foundation issues - the 2-inch crack in one of the bridge’s arches that could cause the bridge to split - has now been exacerbated by severe hydrodynamic scouring along the bridge’s piers that was found by inspectors in 2021. Scouring is the process of forcefully flowing water which can remove soil or rock and is credited as one of three main causes of bridge failure. A public meeting scheduled by the Boone County Commissioners was held April 12 at the Courthouse Annex to listen to public comments regarding the bridge removal. Following the public meeting, Friends of Scotland Bridge was formed. They met April 22 to research the issue further including possible solutions. Discussed as alternatives to replacing the bridge, the BCHS and Indiana Landmarks recommended a diversion around the bridge connecting 200 E to Scotland Road allowing for a permanent historical reuse of the existing bridge, or relocating the bridge, which would mean numbering and reassembling each stone. The scope and estimated $1 million cost combined to kill the project. Thanks to two local businessmen, the historic bridge will now find new life in reimagined forms. Tom Dull of Dull’s Tree Farm and Pumpkin Patch and Caleb Michalke of Sugar Creek Malt Co., both in Thorntown, won bids to remove the bridge’s stones. Tom Dull submitted plans to the Boone County Highway Department that would use stones from the bridge to recreate a smaller version of the bridge on their property. The 1800s farmstead already houses reassembled log cabins they have found over the years and repurposed as a gift shop, and a bed and breakfast retreat. Michalke’s plan includes recycling the bridge’s stones to build a new structure where he will germinate malt used to make high-quality malt prized by brewers. This isn’t the outcome wished for but the beloved Scotland Bridge will live on in other ways.
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Scotland Bridge is gone. Photo courtesy of Jo Brock Unroe shared on 3.6.23 |
Though the old Scotland Bridge is no more, we are proud to have partnered with the Boone County Highway Department
during the construction of a monument commemorating the former bridge.
We are honored to be a part of this project facilitated by the Boone County Highway Department. Thank you BCHD.
The monument has a QR code that links to this page of the Historical Society's website. Check it out.
during the construction of a monument commemorating the former bridge.
We are honored to be a part of this project facilitated by the Boone County Highway Department. Thank you BCHD.
The monument has a QR code that links to this page of the Historical Society's website. Check it out.
Beginning construction of the new bridge. Photos courtesy of Monica Ridenour shared on 6.18.23.