BEDFORD – Lawrence County Highway Superintendent Brian Sowder is leading a concentrated effort to tackle substantial bridge repairs.
A critical priority for the Highway Department is Bridge 107, crossing over Spring Creek at State Road 58 and Armstrong Station Road. This historic bridge has been closed to traffic since June 19, 2025, after a safety inspection deemed its structural integrity compromised and unsafe for public use.
Built in 1915, Bridge No. 107 holds a significant place in Indiana’s infrastructure history, recognized as a “Select” bridge under Indiana’s Historic Bridge Inventory. It is considered a rare example of a polygonal top chord Warren pony truss, with its historic integrity affirmed in a 2006 Programmatic Agreement on the preservation of Indiana’s historic bridges.
Sowder stated that it would cost $69,315 to repair the bridge and reopen it with a 5-ton weight limit. With the commissioners’ approval, he intends to move forward with the repair. However, Sowder will seek approval from INDOT to potentially tear down the historic bridge, assemble it, and store it until a new home can be found for it, then replace it with a new bridge capable of handling a higher weight limit. The cost to the county for dismantling the bridge is estimated at around $277,000.
Beyond Bridge 107, the department is actively engaged in repairing gravel roads that have sustained damage from recent flash floods and torrential rainfall. Crews are also diligently working to complete the ongoing chip and seal project across the county.
In related news, the commissioners approved $97,403 to complete bridge inspections for 2026.
Sowder noted, “That amount is $5,000 more than last year due to new inspection requirements from INDOT.”
The Highway Department is also addressing overgrown grass and weeds. Crews are currently out addressing the issue, working to catch up on mowing between storm events, while removing downed trees and debris, and addressing flash flood issues.
