They've walked, looked, and pointed out the problems on the closed New Harmony Bridge, but questions remain. Friday morning, local and state leaders from Indiana and Illinois discussed the future of this troubled bridge. Some say it's time to tear it down while others believe it's back to the drawing board.
You can only go so far when you get to this point in New Harmony.
"My personal opinion is we have engineered this bridge to death. We have worked hard and we spent numerous hours over, under, and around that bridge, but I think we've kicked this can down the road as far as we can kick it and I think it's time to let it go. Let's bring it down and hopefully someday we can get a new bridge here," White County Bridge Commission Chairman, James Clark said.
Even though Clark is ready to demolish the bridge, not everyone is. The White County Bridge Commission owns the closed New Harmony Bridge that links Posey County, Indiana and White County, Illinois. It's a discussion that continues to go back and forth. The challenge? Money. Some residents say New Harmony is a little town trying to survive, and everyone is dragging their feet.
Eyewitness News talked with a bed and breakfast owner who moved to New Harmony from D.C. about three years ago. Today, he's concerned about how the bridge could affect future business.
"It hasn't affected my business per se as of yet. But if it starts affecting other businesses and they start closing, then my business will have my guess won't have anywhere to go or do anything so why would they want to come and stay here," Johnathon Scott said.
Cook's on Brewery Bed & Breakfast owner, Johnathon Scott says he fell in love with New Harmony, and like many, he wants to see a new bridge go up to help the town thrive.
"Well it is extremely frustrating because it just seems like everybody wants to point the finger in another direction instead of pulling together and being honest about what our options are," Scott said.
Even though Clark says the bridge's time has come and gone and he is ready to vote to tear it down or just turn it to the states, the other two commissioners want more studies and more time. The White County Bridge Commission says it will meet again in six months to a year. No word on when they will make a decision.
You can only go so far when you get to this point in New Harmony.
"My personal opinion is we have engineered this bridge to death. We have worked hard and we spent numerous hours over, under, and around that bridge, but I think we've kicked this can down the road as far as we can kick it and I think it's time to let it go. Let's bring it down and hopefully someday we can get a new bridge here," White County Bridge Commission Chairman, James Clark said.
Even though Clark is ready to demolish the bridge, not everyone is. The White County Bridge Commission owns the closed New Harmony Bridge that links Posey County, Indiana and White County, Illinois. It's a discussion that continues to go back and forth. The challenge? Money. Some residents say New Harmony is a little town trying to survive, and everyone is dragging their feet.
Eyewitness News talked with a bed and breakfast owner who moved to New Harmony from D.C. about three years ago. Today, he's concerned about how the bridge could affect future business.
"It hasn't affected my business per se as of yet. But if it starts affecting other businesses and they start closing, then my business will have my guess won't have anywhere to go or do anything so why would they want to come and stay here," Johnathon Scott said.
Cook's on Brewery Bed & Breakfast owner, Johnathon Scott says he fell in love with New Harmony, and like many, he wants to see a new bridge go up to help the town thrive.
"Well it is extremely frustrating because it just seems like everybody wants to point the finger in another direction instead of pulling together and being honest about what our options are," Scott said.
Even though Clark says the bridge's time has come and gone and he is ready to vote to tear it down or just turn it to the states, the other two commissioners want more studies and more time. The White County Bridge Commission says it will meet again in six months to a year. No word on when they will make a decision.
