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East End Bridge (Huntington)
Encyclopedia
The East Huntington Bridge (officially the Frank Gatski Memorial Bridge, also called the East End Bridge or the 31st Street Bridge) is a 900 feet (274.3 m) cable-stayed bridge
crossing the Ohio River
at Huntington, West Virginia
. It carries WV 106
on the West Virginia
approach and OH 775
on the Ohio
approach.
span were being discussed. To conform to the Huntington
city comprehensive plan, the alignment preferred by the city was one that connected to Interstate 64
outside of the city boundaries. Many favored a plan about one mile north of the city along WV 2
.
Work began on the bridge in 1983 and was completed in August 1985 at a cost of $38 million. The designer of the bridge was Arvid Grant and Associated of Olympia, Washington
and was the first bridge of its type in West Virginia
. It was only the second of its kind in the United States since it utilized concrete instead of steel for its construction. It was built as a FHWA
demonstration project.
The Ohio River
span and approach ramps on both sides of the river completed was what was known as Phase I. Future plans involved tolling the bridge and connecting it to U.S. Highway 60
four blocks east
The bridge was renamed for Marshall University's first member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
,
Frank "Gunner" Gatski
, during halftime of the Marshall-UTEP Football game on November 18, 2006.
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
crossing the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
at Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
. It carries WV 106
West Virginia State Route 106
West Virginia Route 106 is an unsigned state route for the cable-stayed East Huntington Bridge crossing the Ohio River from the Guyandotte section of Huntington to Proctorville, Ohio...
on the West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
approach and OH 775
Ohio State Route 775
State Route 775 is a north–south state highway in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. Its southern terminus is on the East End Bridge with the unmarked West Virginia Route 106 south of Proctorville, and its northern terminus is at State Route 141 nearly west of Gallipolis...
on the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
approach.
History
The history of the span dates to the early 1970s when possible routings for a future Ohio RiverOhio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
span were being discussed. To conform to the Huntington
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
city comprehensive plan, the alignment preferred by the city was one that connected to Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
outside of the city boundaries. Many favored a plan about one mile north of the city along WV 2
West Virginia State Route 2
West Virginia Route 2 is a state highway in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It generally parallels the Ohio River along the west border of the state, from U.S. Route 60 in Huntington northeasterly to U.S...
.
Work began on the bridge in 1983 and was completed in August 1985 at a cost of $38 million. The designer of the bridge was Arvid Grant and Associated of Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
and was the first bridge of its type in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. It was only the second of its kind in the United States since it utilized concrete instead of steel for its construction. It was built as a FHWA
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
demonstration project.
The Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
span and approach ramps on both sides of the river completed was what was known as Phase I. Future plans involved tolling the bridge and connecting it to U.S. Highway 60
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway, running from the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast in Virginia to western Arizona. Despite the final "0" in its number, indicating a transcontinental designation, the 1926 route formerly ended in Springfield, Missouri, at its intersection...
four blocks east
The bridge was renamed for Marshall University's first member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
,
Frank "Gunner" Gatski
Frank Gatski
Frank Gatski was an American football player.Gatski was born on March 18, 1919 in Farmington, West Virginia....
, during halftime of the Marshall-UTEP Football game on November 18, 2006.
External links
- East End Bridge at Bridges & Tunnels