Jeremiah Morrow Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Jeremiah Morrow Bridge is a pair of parallel continuous truss bridge
s which span the Little Miami River
gorge between Fort Ancient
and Oregonia, Ohio
. The bridges are named for Governor Jeremiah Morrow
.
The deck truss bridge uses a modified Warren truss design and is continuous across five spans. The bridges carry Interstate 71
and are 239 feet (73 m) above the river, making them the tallest bridges in Ohio. Additionally, the bridges are approximately 2300 ft (700m) in length, making them two of the longest interstate bridges in the state. Each bridge carries two lanes of traffic.
A project to replace both spans is underway, as these bridges are approximately the same design and age as the I-35W Mississippi River bridge which collapsed in 2007.
The Little Miami Scenic Trail passes under the bridges on the east bank, close to river level, providing an impressive view from below. Trail users, especially first-timers, may stop to gaze before proceeding. There is no sign on the trail to identify the bridges nor give their height. There is no obvious path to ascend to the rim of the gorge from below the bridges, so trail users view the bridges from only one perspective.
The new bridge design will involve a segmental concrete box girder, with 440 feet (134.1 m) main span, perched on concrete piers anchored in the river valley. The design was selected for its constructability, low cost and aesthetics. Each structure will measure 2240 feet (682.8 m) in length and 55 feet (16.8 m) in width. Each structure’s six spans will range in length from 270 feet (82.3 m) to 440 feet (134.1 m) to 229 feet (69.8 m), and pier height will range from 60 to 220 feet (67.1 m). Each structure will be marked for three lanes and wide shoulders; width would permit reconfiguration of span for four lanes and shoulders for any future widening of I-71. Construction is managed by Omnipro Services, LLC and will involve four phases:
Throughout construction, two lanes of traffic in each direction will be maintained. However, there will be some night time lane closures during phase II. The estimated amount of concrete to be used in the project is approximately 58,000 cubic yards
Continuous truss bridge
A continuous truss bridge is a truss bridge which extends without hinges or joints across three or more supports. A continuous truss bridge may use less material than a series of simple trusses because a continuous truss distributes live loads across all the spans; in a series of simple trusses,...
s which span the Little Miami River
Little Miami River
The Little Miami River is a Class I tributary of the Ohio River that flows through five counties in southwestern Ohio in the United States. The Little Miami joins the Ohio River east of Cincinnati. It forms parts of the borders between Hamilton and Clermont counties and between Hamilton and Warren...
gorge between Fort Ancient
Fort Ancient, Ohio
Fort Ancient is a collection of Native American earthworks located in Washington Township, Warren County, Ohio, along the eastern shore of the Little Miami River about seven miles southeast of Lebanon on State Route 350...
and Oregonia, Ohio
Oregonia, Ohio
Oregonia is an unincorporated community in northwestern Washington Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States, on the east shore of the Little Miami River about five miles northeast of Lebanon and six miles south of Waynesville....
. The bridges are named for Governor Jeremiah Morrow
Jeremiah Morrow
Jeremiah Morrow was a Democratic-Republican Party politician from Ohio. He served as the ninth Governor of Ohio, and the last Democratic-Republican to do so....
.
The deck truss bridge uses a modified Warren truss design and is continuous across five spans. The bridges carry Interstate 71
Interstate 71
Interstate 71 is an Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes/Midwestern and Southeastern region of the United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 64 and Interstate 65 in Louisville, Kentucky. Its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 in Cleveland,...
and are 239 feet (73 m) above the river, making them the tallest bridges in Ohio. Additionally, the bridges are approximately 2300 ft (700m) in length, making them two of the longest interstate bridges in the state. Each bridge carries two lanes of traffic.
A project to replace both spans is underway, as these bridges are approximately the same design and age as the I-35W Mississippi River bridge which collapsed in 2007.
Viewing from above and below
Southbound and northbound Interstate 71 users were permitted to stop at scenic overlooks to view the bridges from the rim of the gorge. This ended in 2006.The Little Miami Scenic Trail passes under the bridges on the east bank, close to river level, providing an impressive view from below. Trail users, especially first-timers, may stop to gaze before proceeding. There is no sign on the trail to identify the bridges nor give their height. There is no obvious path to ascend to the rim of the gorge from below the bridges, so trail users view the bridges from only one perspective.
Replacement of the Jeremiah Morrow Bridge
In July 2010, a 6-year project to replace the bridge began with the beginning phases of access roads to the gorge being constructed. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Aug. 2, 2010.The new bridge design will involve a segmental concrete box girder, with 440 feet (134.1 m) main span, perched on concrete piers anchored in the river valley. The design was selected for its constructability, low cost and aesthetics. Each structure will measure 2240 feet (682.8 m) in length and 55 feet (16.8 m) in width. Each structure’s six spans will range in length from 270 feet (82.3 m) to 440 feet (134.1 m) to 229 feet (69.8 m), and pier height will range from 60 to 220 feet (67.1 m). Each structure will be marked for three lanes and wide shoulders; width would permit reconfiguration of span for four lanes and shoulders for any future widening of I-71. Construction is managed by Omnipro Services, LLC and will involve four phases:
- 1. Preparatory work beneath the existing twin steel deck-truss bridges
- 2. Construction of the southbound structure between the existing north and southbound spans.
- 3. Move northbound traffic onto new structure, followed by demolition of existing northbound bridge and construction of new northbound structure in its place.
- 4. Move traffic into its final configuration - northbound traffic onto new northbound bridge and southbound traffic onto new southbound bridge, with demolition of existing southbound bridge to follow.
Throughout construction, two lanes of traffic in each direction will be maintained. However, there will be some night time lane closures during phase II. The estimated amount of concrete to be used in the project is approximately 58,000 cubic yards