Reopening set for Moscow covered bridge

Organizers are planning a weekend ceremony to dedicate a rebuilt covered bridge that was destroyed by a tornado in central Indiana more than two years ago.

The new wooden bridge in the Rush County community of Moscow was built following the design of the original 1886 bridge that collapsed into the Flatrock River from the June 2008 storm.

Thanks to growing appreciation of the state’s history, the destruction was mourned as a loss, prompting a restoration unusual for its sweeping involvement of parties ranging from the governor to a trade union.

"People are beginning to understand there’s a connection between our built environment and community, and economic development," said Wayne Goodman,  director of the eastern office of Indiana Landmarks, which helped coordinate the reconstruction. “It’s remarkable what a couple of decades can do.”

Indiana is thought to have had 400 to 500 covered bridges at the turn of the past century, but rot, fires and overweight traffic have whittled the number to 88, the foundation says. (Click here for IBJ's coverage of the Moscow bridge reconstruction, including a photo gallery.)

Gov. Mitch Daniels is among those scheduled to take part in the Saturday morning ceremony at the bridge about 35 miles southeast of Indianapolis.

The Rushville Republican reports current and former residents of the town are being invited to pose in a photograph with the bridge in a recreation of a photo from the 1886 dedication.