Main Avenue Bridge

The Main Avenue (Harold H. Burton Memorial) Bridge (alternately Main Avenue Viaduct[2]) is a cantilever truss bridge in Cleveland, Ohio carrying Ohio State Route 2/Cleveland Memorial Shoreway over the Cuyahoga River.[3] The bridge, completed in 1939, is 8,000 feet (2,400 m) in length, and was the longest elevated structure in Ohio[4] until the 2007 completion of the Veterans' Glass City Skyway in Toledo. It was named for Harold H. Burton, 45th mayor of Cleveland, in late January 1986.[5] The bridge replaced an 1869 bridge at the same site,[4] and was built in conjunction with construction of the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway.[6]

Main Avenue Bridge Looking West, Cleveland, Ohio vintage postcard
Main Avenue Bridge
The underside of the bridge, as viewed from the Cuyahoga River, near the Flats
Coordinates41°29′55″N 81°42′18″W
Carries OH 2
CrossesCuyahoga River
LocaleCleveland, Ohio
ID number1800035
Characteristics
DesignMetal-Riveted Cantilever Deck Truss, Stationary[1]
Total length6,580 feet (2,010 m)
8,000 feet (2,400 m) including ramps [1]
Width82 feet (25 m)
Longest span120 m
Clearance above100 feet (30 m) (over river)
Clearance below96 feet (29 m)
History
Construction end1939
Opened1939
Location
View of the bridge from the Flats in 1999

The bridge received extensive renovations 1991–1992;[4][7] it subsequently received major structural repairs in 2007[8] and again in 2012–2013, both instances necessitating re-routing of large vehicles.[9][10][11]

The bridge is visible at the end of the "Cleveland Rocks" version of the opening credits of The Drew Carey Show.[12]

In 2013, the Federal Highway Administration listed the Main Avenue Bridge as "structurally deficient" and "fracture critical". [13][14]

See also

References
  1. "Main Avenue Bridge Cleveland Memorial Shoreway Bridge Historic Ohio Cuyahoga River Bridge". Historicbridges.org. 2007-06-24. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Main Avenue Viaduct
  3. "Main Avenue Bridge". Historic Bridges of Michigan and Elsewhere. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  4. "Main Ave. Bridge". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.
  5. Thoma, Pauline (1986-01-18). "Bridge over River Cuy renamed". The Plain Dealer.
  6. "Memorial Shoreway". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.
  7. Thoma, Pauline (1992-10-17). "Making a Drive to the Finish Line". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  8. Farkas, Karen (2009-06-28). "ODOT withheld fears about danger of Main Avenue Bridge collapsing in 2007". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  9. "ODOT to Begin Repair Project on Main Avenue Bridge (press release)". Ohio Department of Transportation District 12. 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  10. Dissell, Rachel (2012-07-18). "ODOT Officials Suddenly Close Main Avenue Bridge to Truck and Bus Traffic in Cleveland". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  11. "ODOT to Reopen Main Avenue Bridge to Heavy Truck Traffic (press release)". Ohio Department of Transportation District 12. 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  12. Compare end of clip with Bing Maps Bird's Eye View of approximate location (choose eastward view).
  13. http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2013/09/clevelands_main_avenue_bridge.html
  14. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/nbi.cfm
  • Watson, Sara Ruth; John R. Wolfs (1981). "Chapter 2: The Four Great Viaducts". Bridges of Metropolitan Cleveland. pp. 28–31. Transcription at The Cleveland Memory Project website.
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