Admiral T. J. Lopez Bridge
The Admiral T. J. Lopez Bridge is a truss bridge crossing the Kanawha River at Chelyan, West Virginia, named for 4-star admiral Thomas J. Lopez.[1] The Warren truss bridge cost $25.9 million to build, and was opened to traffic on June 30, 1997. It serves as a connection between I-64/I-77 (West Virginia Turnpike), U.S. Route 60 (US 60), and West Virginia Route 61 (WV 61).
Admiral T. J. Lopez Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°11′52″N 81°29′47″W |
| Carries | 4 lanes |
| Crosses | Kanawha River |
| Locale | Chelyan, West Virginia |
| Other name(s) | Chelyan Bridge |
| Owner | West Virginia Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss bridge |
| Total length | 2,200 feet (670 m) |
| Longest span | 594 feet (181 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | HDR Engineering Inc., Pittsburgh |
| Construction start | May 1995 |
| Construction end | 1997 |
| Construction cost | $25.9 million |
| Opened | June 30, 1997 |
| Location | |
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History
The current bridge replaced an earlier crossing known simply as the Chelyan Bridge. Initially a toll crossing constructed for the Midland Trail-James River Bridge Company in 1928-29, this bridge consisted of 17 riveted steel truss and girder spans with a total length of 1,355 feet (413 m). The main span over the navigable channel was a 450-foot-long (140 m) cantilever truss with 200-foot (61 m) side spans. It was sold to the state of West Virginia in 1946 and, despite several rehabilitation projects over the years, continuing deterioration of the bridge required a load limit to be imposed. The bridge was documented by the West Virginia Division of Highways for the Historic American Engineering Record in 1993 prior to its replacement.[2]
References
- "Merit Award: Long Span - ADMIRAL T. J. LOPEZ BRIDGE" (PDF). Modern Steel Construction. September 1998. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
- Wilson, Michael K. (November 16, 1993). "Chelyan Bridge" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
External links
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. WV-46, "Chelyan Bridge, Spanning Kanawha River at U.S. Route 61 spur, Chelyan, Kanawha County, WV", 14 photos, 8 data pages, 4 photo caption pages