Corps permit is last obstacle for State Line Bridge removal

The last remaining obstacle before the State Line Bridge on the Kankakee River in Indiana can be removed is a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission, led by Executive Director Scott Pelath, has already obtained permits from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and Indiana Department of Natural Resources to remove the bridge. The State Line Bridge has attracted more attention than other bridges due to its low clearance over the river channel, antiquated design, and tendency to trap woody debris. The commission has worked to remove obstructions from the river, and the removal of this bridge is seen as a way to improve water flow and reduce the need for crews to clear logjams. While there is interest in preserving the historic bridge, no one has come forward with the necessary funding to relocate and rebuild it in a new location. The consensus is that if the bridge is to be preserved, it should not remain in its current position, as it is growing increasingly unsafe even for foot traffic. The commission plans to carefully remove the bridge using two cranes and then dismantle and store it for potential future use elsewhere. The removal of the State Line Bridge is part of the commission's broader efforts to address issues along the Kankakee River watershed, including concerns about the impact of a $11 billion Amazon data center complex being built in New Carlisle, which will involve discharging 35 million gallons of water per day into a tributary of the Kankakee.