A volunteer cleanup crew heads to the CSX railroad bridge to remove concrete chunks from underneath it so boats can now pass on both sides. The bridge is located on the south side of Syracuse Lake. There is a deer on the tracks.
The good news is the CSX railroad bridge between Syracuse Lake and Lake Wawasee is now open on both sides. Becky Fox, president of the Syracuse Lake Association and Kay Young, president of the Wawasee Property Owners Association, both confirmed a crew of volunteers had been out Saturday, June 20, removing chucks of concrete from the water under the bridge.
Both sides have been tested and available for boats and watercraft traffic of the correct size to go under the bridge. Derek Powell, Tim Keim and Bob Betes were among those involved in clearing the way.
Fallen concrete chunks have stopped passage in the past. At the beginning of the boating season, the east side was found to have more blocks of concrete on the lake bottom that could damage watercraft using it. It was blocked off.
More than 90 trains a day cross the bridge located between Syracuse Lake and Mud Lake. The main channel of Turkey Creek comes from Lake Wawasee through Mud Lake to Syracuse Lake and on to the dam. Turkey Creek continues to flow until it reaches the Elkhart River with its water eventually ending in Lake Michigan.
Many boaters launching from both lakes use the underpass to access the other lake, especially during firework displays. This year, Syracuse Lake fireworks will be at dusk Friday, July 3, while Lake Wawasee fireworks will be held at dusk Saturday, July 4.
CSX was contacted and reported the bridge had been inspected in April and passed all tests. The railroad said it will also send an inspector by boat to check it.
Young noted the WPOA will be funding an independent engineering study of the bridge. It should be available in early July.
Everyone involved advised watercraft users to take care going through both sides of the bridge and to watch for falling concrete.