Wheeling Suspension Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Wheeling Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge
spanning the main channel of the Ohio River
at Wheeling, West Virginia
. It was the largest suspension bridge in the world from 1849 until the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge was opened in 1851. It was designed by Charles Ellet Jr., who also worked on the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
. The Wheeling bridge was the first to span the Ohio River, and was an important link on the National Road
.
The main span is 1010 feet (307.8 m) from tower to tower. The east tower rests on the Wheeling shore, while the west tower is on Wheeling Island
. The east tower is 153.5 feet (46.8 m) above the low-water level of the river, or 82 feet (25 m) from the base of the masonry. The west tower is 132.75 feet (40.5 m) above low water, with 69 feet (21 m) of masonry.
The Wheeling Suspension Bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark
on May 15, 1975. It is located in the Wheeling Island Historic District
.
. After a number of delays, a new bridge charter was obtained in 1847. Charles Ellet
and John A. Roebling
were invited to submit designs and estimates for a bridge over the east channel of the river to Wheeling Island. In doing so, the design was set as a suspension bridge, as Ellet and Roebling were the foremost authorities on the topic. Ellet received the contract award in 1847 and began the same year. The bridge was completed in 1849.
On May 17, 1854 a strong windstorm destroyed the deck of the bridge through torsional movement and vertical undulations that rose almost as high as the towers. Ellet rebuilt it, followed by improvements in 1859 by Ellett's partner William McComas
, and in 1874 by William Hildenbrand
. A 1953 report indicates that the suspension cables are either original or the work of the 1860 reconstruction. The deck stiffening truss is believed to be from the same period. Auxiliary stay cables were added in 1871-72 to a design by Washington Roebling
and Hildebrand. The deck was completely rebuilt in 1956, when the road was widened from 16.25 feet (5 m) to 20 feet (6.1 m) and the sidewalks were correspondingly narrowed. The road and sidewalk were reconstructed with an open steel grating that reduces wind resistance, and rests on lightened steel floor beams. In the early 1980s, the West Virginia Department of Highways restored the bridge.. The bridge remains in active service.
The bridge spans a distance of 1,010 feet (308 m) across the Ohio River and allows barges to pass underneath. It remains the oldest vehicular suspension bridge in the United States still in use and is listed as both a National Historic Landmark
and Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
On February 17, 2011, a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed lost control and crashed into the sidewalk panels on the bridge. The damage to the bridge was enough that it was closed for inspection. The bridge is estimated to be closed for four to five days so the panels can be fixed and other minor repairs.
Traffic is advised to keep at least 50 feet (15.2 m) between vehicles. Additionally, traffic lights at both ends only allow a certain number of cars onto the bridge at one time.
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...
spanning the main channel of 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 Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. It was the largest suspension bridge in the world from 1849 until the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge was opened in 1851. It was designed by Charles Ellet Jr., who also worked on the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
The Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge was the world's first working railway suspension bridge. It spanned and stood downstream of Niagara Falls from 1855 to 1897...
. The Wheeling bridge was the first to span the Ohio River, and was an important link on the National Road
National Road
The National Road or Cumberland Road was the first major improved highway in the United States to be built by the federal government. Construction began heading west in 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland, on the Potomac River. It crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania, reaching...
.
The main span is 1010 feet (307.8 m) from tower to tower. The east tower rests on the Wheeling shore, while the west tower is on Wheeling Island
Wheeling Island
Wheeling Island is the most densely populated island in the Ohio River. It lies within the city of Wheeling in Ohio County, West Virginia, in the United States. The 2000 census showed a resident population of 3,142 persons on the island, which has a land area of 1.514 km²...
. The east tower is 153.5 feet (46.8 m) above the low-water level of the river, or 82 feet (25 m) from the base of the masonry. The west tower is 132.75 feet (40.5 m) above low water, with 69 feet (21 m) of masonry.
The Wheeling Suspension Bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
on May 15, 1975. It is located in the Wheeling Island Historic District
Wheeling Island Historic District
Wheeling Island Historic District is a national historic district located at Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia. The district includes 1,110 contributing buildings, 5 contributing sites, 2 contributing structures, and 3 contributing objects...
.
History
A charter was granted to the Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Company in 1816 to construct a bridge to extend the Cumberland Pike, which was to be completed in 1818, to OhioOhio
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...
. After a number of delays, a new bridge charter was obtained in 1847. Charles Ellet
Charles Ellet, Jr.
Charles Ellet, Jr. was a civil engineer and a colonel during the American Civil War, mortally wounded at the Battle of Memphis.-Biography:Ellet was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, brother of Alfred W...
and John A. Roebling
John A. Roebling
John Augustus Roebling was a German-born American civil engineer. He is famous for his wire rope suspension bridge designs, in particular, the design of the Brooklyn Bridge.-Early life:...
were invited to submit designs and estimates for a bridge over the east channel of the river to Wheeling Island. In doing so, the design was set as a suspension bridge, as Ellet and Roebling were the foremost authorities on the topic. Ellet received the contract award in 1847 and began the same year. The bridge was completed in 1849.
On May 17, 1854 a strong windstorm destroyed the deck of the bridge through torsional movement and vertical undulations that rose almost as high as the towers. Ellet rebuilt it, followed by improvements in 1859 by Ellett's partner William McComas
William McComas
William McComas was a U.S. Representative from Virginia.Born near Pearisburg, Virginia, McComas attended private schools and Emory and Henry College, Emory, Virginia.He engaged in agricultural pursuits and in the practice of law....
, and in 1874 by William Hildenbrand
William Hildenbrand
William F. Hildenbrand was an American government officer who served as the Secretary of the United States Senate from 1981 to 1985....
. A 1953 report indicates that the suspension cables are either original or the work of the 1860 reconstruction. The deck stiffening truss is believed to be from the same period. Auxiliary stay cables were added in 1871-72 to a design by Washington Roebling
Washington Roebling
Washington Augustus Roebling was an American civil engineer best known for his work on the Brooklyn Bridge, which was initially designed by his father John A. Roebling.-Education and military service:...
and Hildebrand. The deck was completely rebuilt in 1956, when the road was widened from 16.25 feet (5 m) to 20 feet (6.1 m) and the sidewalks were correspondingly narrowed. The road and sidewalk were reconstructed with an open steel grating that reduces wind resistance, and rests on lightened steel floor beams. In the early 1980s, the West Virginia Department of Highways restored the bridge.. The bridge remains in active service.
The bridge spans a distance of 1,010 feet (308 m) across the Ohio River and allows barges to pass underneath. It remains the oldest vehicular suspension bridge in the United States still in use and is listed as both a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
and Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
On February 17, 2011, a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed lost control and crashed into the sidewalk panels on the bridge. The damage to the bridge was enough that it was closed for inspection. The bridge is estimated to be closed for four to five days so the panels can be fixed and other minor repairs.
Weight limits
The bridge was designed prior to the advent of the automobile. At the time of construction, a horse and buggy was the heaviest live load that would be expected. Currently, the bridge has a (per vehicle) weight limit of 4000 lb (1,814.4 kg) making it unsuitable for trucks, buses, or other heavy vehicles.Traffic is advised to keep at least 50 feet (15.2 m) between vehicles. Additionally, traffic lights at both ends only allow a certain number of cars onto the bridge at one time.
See also
- List of crossings of the Ohio River
- List of historic sites in Ohio County, West Virginia
- List of Registered Historic Places in West Virginia
External links
- Wheeling Suspension Bridge at Bridges & Tunnels
- Wheeling Suspension Bridge, Spanning East channel of Ohio River at U.S. Route 40, Wheeling, Ohio, WV: 4 drawings, 56 photos, 31 data pages, 5 photo caption pages, and 10 color transparencies at Historic American Building Survey
- Wheeling Suspension Bridge at the Ohio County Public Library