The Historic Kilmore Bridge in Clinton County has reopened following an extensive rehabilitation project that began in early March, restoring both its structural integrity and historic character.
Bridge Reopens After Restoration
Bridge 60 over Kilmore Creek, located along County Road 0 near Kilmore, had been closed for approximately three months while crews completed metal replacement, truss repair, and repainting work. The closure lasted about half of the originally projected six-month timeline.
Clinton County Highway Superintendent Rick Campbell said the project involved removing deteriorated steel, sandblasting the structure to bare metal, sealing exposed surfaces, and applying primer and paint designed to extend the bridge’s lifespan.
“They cut all the rusted steel out of it and sandblasted everything back to bare metal,” Campbell said. “Then they sealed it and painted it. Hopefully it lasts 10 to 15 years.”
Campbell noted that the condition of the bridge was worse than initially estimated, requiring additional steel components and a change order during construction.
Project Costs and Funding
The Bridge 60 project was funded through Clinton County’s restricted bridge funds rather than a new state or federal grant. In January, county commissioners approved a change order allowing additional project costs to be covered using existing bridge-dedicated reserves.
Campbell estimated the total cost at approximately $790,000, slightly below earlier projections near $800,000 due to cost-saving adjustments in how replacement steel components were fabricated.
“It had to be done,” Campbell said. “They figured out a way to make the steel parts without replacing everything, so we should get a little bit of money back.”
The work was completed by CivilCon, with a focus on preservation rather than full replacement.
Historic Significance
The Kilmore Creek bridge is classified as a historic structure and is considered eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Dating back to the early 20th century, the bridge features a traditional exposed metal truss design that has become increasingly rare.
“There’s not very many steel bridges left,” Campbell said. “They’re replacing bridges with concrete more and more, and the historical groups are trying to save what’s left.”
Because of its historic designation, the rehabilitation followed preservation standards requiring repair and restoration rather than demolition and replacement.
Broader Infrastructure Context
While Clinton County regularly receives funding through programs such as Indiana’s Community Crossings Matching Grant Program, the Kilmore Bridge project was not tied to a specific standalone grant. Instead, it reflects the county’s broader strategy of maintaining aging infrastructure using a mix of state-supported and locally controlled funds.
Dozens of bridges across the county date back several decades, making preservation efforts like the Kilmore project a key part of long-term infrastructure planning.
With construction now complete, County Road 0 has reopened to traffic, restoring access through the area while preserving one of the county’s remaining historic bridge.
