U.S. Grant Bridge
Encyclopedia
The original U.S. Grant Bridge was a suspension bridge
. The bridge opened to traffic as a toll bridge
in 1927. It wasn't until 1974 when the Ohio Department of Transportation
bought the bridge from the Ohio Bridge Commission and removed the tolls. The U.S. Grant Bridge was the only automobile bridge in Scioto County to cross the Ohio River which became a nightmare when the bridge closed for repairs in 1978 which then reopened in 1980. However, Scioto County would have more arteries to cross with the Jesse Stuart Memorial Bridge
opened in 1984 and the Carl Perkins Bridge opened in 1988.
In 1992, ODOT initiated a long-range study to determine whether to continue to rehabilitate the existing bridge or construct a new span. ODOT had spent $9 million from 1977 to 1996 by the time the study was completed to rehabilitate portions of the bridge. According to the study, rehabilitating the span would add only 20 useful years to the suspension bridge before rehabilitation would need to occur again and would cost nearly $30 million. It was found not cost-efficient to continuously rehabilitate the suspension bridge when a new structure would be cheaper in the long-run. The bridge continued to age and once again closed from repairs in 1994.
On July 3, 2001, the original suspension bridge was permanently closed to traffic and the entire structure was torn down within a few months.
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
. The bridge opened to traffic as a toll bridge
Toll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
in 1927. It wasn't until 1974 when the Ohio Department of Transportation
Ohio Department of Transportation
The Ohio Department of Transportation is the organization of state government responsible for developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the state of Ohio with exception of the Ohio Turnpike. In addition to highways, the department also helps develop public transportation and...
bought the bridge from the Ohio Bridge Commission and removed the tolls. The U.S. Grant Bridge was the only automobile bridge in Scioto County to cross the Ohio River which became a nightmare when the bridge closed for repairs in 1978 which then reopened in 1980. However, Scioto County would have more arteries to cross with the Jesse Stuart Memorial Bridge
Jesse Stuart Memorial Bridge
The Jesse Stuart Memorial Bridge is a viaduct on top of the Greenup Locks and Dam on the Ohio River. The bridge, named after author and Greenup County, Kentucky native Jesse Stuart, was completed in 1984 and carries Kentucky Route 10 from the AA Highway/U.S. 23 intersection to the bridge itself,...
opened in 1984 and the Carl Perkins Bridge opened in 1988.
In 1992, ODOT initiated a long-range study to determine whether to continue to rehabilitate the existing bridge or construct a new span. ODOT had spent $9 million from 1977 to 1996 by the time the study was completed to rehabilitate portions of the bridge. According to the study, rehabilitating the span would add only 20 useful years to the suspension bridge before rehabilitation would need to occur again and would cost nearly $30 million. It was found not cost-efficient to continuously rehabilitate the suspension bridge when a new structure would be cheaper in the long-run. The bridge continued to age and once again closed from repairs in 1994.
On July 3, 2001, the original suspension bridge was permanently closed to traffic and the entire structure was torn down within a few months.
External links
- C.J. Mahan Construction Company, contractors for the new U.S. Grant Bridge
- U.S. Grant Bridge at Bridges & Tunnels
- U.S. Grant Bridge (Demolished) at Bridges & Tunnels