The Abandoned Hartford Pike Bridge #1, French, Indiana

About a mile and a half west of U.S 56 on Hartford Pike in Ohio County, Indiana you’ll cross a small creek by way of a modern concrete bridge. However, to your left you’ll notice a one lane road going off into the brush. That one lane road was the original Hartford Pike up until about 1985 when the road was realigned and bypassed this single lane bridge. I’m not sure when the original bridge was built but I’m guessing in the 1930s. It has steel beams running the length of the span with a wooden floor that is now rotted out and falling apart. The bridge sits on stone bridge abutments and doesn’t appear to have ever had any guard rails. You have to wonder if anyone accidentally drove off the side and into the creek! The bridge can barely be seen in the winter when the vegetation has died back and is totally hidden during the summer. This is one of many phantom bridges hiding in plain sight throughout Indiana.

GPS Location: 39º00’34.7″N 84º54’23.0″W

Video Release Date: March 19, 2023