NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) – The mayor of Noblesville claims federal red tape is putting a piece of Hamilton County history at risk. 

Noblesville’s Midland Bridge, first built in the 1890s over the White River, was taken down for city redevelopment projects meant to improve mobility and connect the downtown.

The city partnered with Conner Prairie Museum in 2023 to preserve the bridge after its removal. Now, Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen says federal regulations are restricting how the city considers the bridge’s future. 

“Regulation is meant to be guardrails, not a roadblock,” Jensen said. 

More than 150 acres of parks are planned to open over the next five years, according to Jensen, which has opened discussions about whether to reinstall the bridge in Noblesville.

The Republican mayor says federal regulations, ranging from rules on storage to requirements to study alternatives, are allowing the bridge to deteriorate in the time it could be repurposed. 

“Look at government overreach and red tape,” Jensen said. “The studying that often times takes longer than the construction itself is just costing taxpayer dollars.” 

Jensen says he’s already had conversations at the state level, and is asking constituents to reach out to federal lawmakers for regulatory relief or grant assistance. 

In the meantime, city officials are considering how the bridge could be used as an asset at a new park.