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Melcher Bridge
Parke County, Indiana · over the LEATHERWOOD Creek · built 1896
| Item | Of record | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Crosses | LEATHERWOOD Creek | National Bridge Inventory, 2025 file |
| Road carried | STRAWBERRY Rd | National Bridge Inventory, 2025 file |
| Carries | Vehicle bridge (public road) | As recorded — see access notes below |
| Year built | 1896 | National Bridge Inventory, 2025 file |
| Length | 98 ft | National Bridge Inventory structure length, out-to-out, 2025 file |
| Longest span | 78 ft | National Bridge Inventory, 2025 file |
| Vertical clearance | 11 ft 10 in | National Bridge Inventory minimum vertical clearance over the roadway, as recorded (converted from metres) |
| Coordinates | 39.78892, -87.33497 Google Maps · OpenStreetMap | National Park Service, National Register GIS |
| Historic listing | National Register of Historic Places, listed 1978-12-22 (reference #78000402) | National Park Service |
| How it qualifies | National Register listing verified against the property's nomination (NPGallery federal record), which describes it as a covered bridge | See About & method |
Access & restrictions — as recorded
Closed to all traffic
| Posting appraisal | Operating rating more than 30% below the maximum legal load |
| Structural operating rating (not the posted limit) | 11.1 metric tons (about 12 US tons) |
| Vertical clearance | 11 ft 10 in |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 annual file. Status checked November 12, 2026. Postings and closures change — obey the signs at the bridge.