Interstate 470 Bridge

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge is a four-lane tied arch bridge in the United States. It carries Interstate 470 over the Ohio River between Bellaire, Ohio and Wheeling, West Virginia.

Interstate 470 Bridge
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge is a four-lane tied arch bridge in the United States. It carries Interstate 470 over the Ohio River between Bellaire, Ohio and Wheeling, West Virginia.
Coordinates	40.0498°N 80.7307°W / 40.0498; -80.7307
Carries	4 lanes of I-470
Crosses	Ohio River
Locale	Bellaire, Ohio and Wheeling, West Virginia
Official name	Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge
ID number	00000000035A123
Characteristics
Design	Tied-arch bridge
Total length	409 m (1,342 ft)
Longest span	239 m (784 ft)
Clearance above	21 m (69 ft)
History
Construction start	1975 (1975)
Construction end	1983
References
[1][2]

History

Construction on the tied-arch bridge began in 1975, and was scheduled to be completed by 1981. Construction was not completed on time due to the Ohio Department of Transportation's delays on Ohio State Route 7 along the western shores of the river.[2] The estimated cost to construct the span was about $54 million.[3] During construction of the span it was dubbed the "bridge to nowhere" as the bridge did not connect to the Ohio segment of I-470. In 1981, frays in the vertical hanger cables delayed the opening of the bridge, which was scheduled to open in July 1981.[4]

The opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge, along with another bridge in nearby Moundsville was thought to have reduced the amount of traffic, and thus tolls collected by the nearby Bellaire Bridge by up to 50 percent in 1987.[5]

See also

• List of crossings of the Ohio River
• Fort Henry Bridge, another tied arch bridge across the Ohio River at Wheeling

References

1. Federal Highway Administration (2012). "NBI Structure Number: 00000000035A123". National Bridge Inventory. Federal Highway Administration.
2. "Problems Stall Ohio River Span Opening". Sunday Times-Sentinel. Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Associated Press. July 24, 1983. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
3. Hodel, Martha Bryson (November 20, 1980). "New Bridges to Cut Down Travel Time". The Daily Sentinel. Middleport, Ohio. Associated Press. p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
4. "Frayed Cables Delay Span". Daily Times. Portsmouth, Ohio. Associated Press. April 27, 1981. p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
5. Harrison, Eric (March 1, 1987). "For Sale: 1 Toll Bridge In The Heart Of The 'Rust Belt'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A19. ProQuest 286123854.

External links

• Interstate 470 Bridge at Structurae