Ironton-Russell Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Ironton–Russell Bridge opened in 1922 as the first highway bridge along the Ohio River between Parkersburg, West Virginia
and Cincinnati, Ohio
. Soon, the Ironton-Russell bridge was followed by numerous others at Ashland
, Portsmouth
, and Huntington
. This light-blue cantilever bridge carries two lanes of traffic and a narrow sidewalk.
In 2000, the Ohio Department of Transportation released a report recommended the replacement of the then 78 year old span. The bridge was retrofitted in the 1970s with strengthening beams and plates.
Later inspection of the bridge revealed that these plates had been welded to the bridge using techniques that violated the bridge welding codes and reduced the fatigue strength of primary load members. As a result of these findings, ODOT added reinforcements to some vertical members to improve structural redundancy.
The bridge will still be forced to close when temperatures approach -5 degrees Fahrenheit due to the brittle nature of the steel used. Continuous monitoring is routine during temperatures below freezing to check for any cracking in the substructure of the span. In addition, in May 2008, ODOT placed a width restriction on the bridge, banning all vehicles that are wider than 7 ft. 6 in. Emergency vehicles, non-commercial vehicles and non-profit busses (such as school bus
ses) are exempt from the restriction. ODOT has authorized both the Ironton and Russell city police, along with the Ohio State Highway Patrol
and the Kentucky State Police
, to enforce the restriction. Also, depending on the agency issuing the citation, volators may be cited in either the Ironton Municipal Court in Ohio or the Greenup County District Court in Kentucky.
One of the replacements considered was a three-lane single-tower cable suspension bridge. The final design was chosen in January 2003, however, the high costs of constructing the bridge became apparent when costs for the new bridge came in at $110 million, well over the original estimated cost. The sharp rise was attributed to the dramatic increase in construction costs partially blamed on Hurricane Katrina
, which increased the cost of concrete
materials and items derived from petroleum
products. The bridge has been redesigned with two-towers and has been reduced from three lanes to two.
Parkersburg, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
and Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. Soon, the Ironton-Russell bridge was followed by numerous others at Ashland
Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...
, Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...
, and 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...
. This light-blue cantilever bridge carries two lanes of traffic and a narrow sidewalk.
In 2000, the Ohio Department of Transportation released a report recommended the replacement of the then 78 year old span. The bridge was retrofitted in the 1970s with strengthening beams and plates.
Later inspection of the bridge revealed that these plates had been welded to the bridge using techniques that violated the bridge welding codes and reduced the fatigue strength of primary load members. As a result of these findings, ODOT added reinforcements to some vertical members to improve structural redundancy.
The bridge will still be forced to close when temperatures approach -5 degrees Fahrenheit due to the brittle nature of the steel used. Continuous monitoring is routine during temperatures below freezing to check for any cracking in the substructure of the span. In addition, in May 2008, ODOT placed a width restriction on the bridge, banning all vehicles that are wider than 7 ft. 6 in. Emergency vehicles, non-commercial vehicles and non-profit busses (such as school bus
School bus
A school bus is a type of bus designed and manufactured for student transport: carrying children and teenagers to and from school and school events...
ses) are exempt from the restriction. ODOT has authorized both the Ironton and Russell city police, along with the Ohio State Highway Patrol
Ohio State Highway Patrol
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety and is the official highway patrol agency of Ohio. The several missions of the Patrol include providing roadway patrol, emergency response to all public lands, the investigation of crimes which occur on state...
and the Kentucky State Police
Kentucky State Police
The Kentucky State Police is a department of the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The department was founded in 1948 and replaced the Kentucky Highway Patrol...
, to enforce the restriction. Also, depending on the agency issuing the citation, volators may be cited in either the Ironton Municipal Court in Ohio or the Greenup County District Court in Kentucky.
One of the replacements considered was a three-lane single-tower cable suspension bridge. The final design was chosen in January 2003, however, the high costs of constructing the bridge became apparent when costs for the new bridge came in at $110 million, well over the original estimated cost. The sharp rise was attributed to the dramatic increase in construction costs partially blamed on Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, which increased the cost of concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
materials and items derived from petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
products. The bridge has been redesigned with two-towers and has been reduced from three lanes to two.
Further reading
- Ironton-Russell Bridge at Bridges & Tunnels
- Ironton-Russell Bridge at Historic Bridges of Michigan and Elsewhere