U.S. Grant Bridge

The U.S. Grant Bridge carries US Route 23 over the Ohio River between Portsmouth, Ohio and Greenup County, Kentucky.

History

The original U.S. Grant Bridge, a wire suspension crossing, opened to traffic in 1927. ¹

Replacement

In 1992, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) began an extensive study to determine whether it would be cost-effective to rehabilitate the Grant Bridge or replace it with a modern crossing. ¹ Rehabilitating the bridge would add 20 useful years to the life of the structure, cost $28 million, and not resolve the issue of narrow travel lanes or weight restrictions. It was determined that it would be more cost-efficient to build a new structure.

The circa 1927 Grant Bridge was closed to traffic on June 30, 2000, and subsequently demolished. ¹ A $28.4 million contract to construct the new crossing was awarded to the C.J. Mahan Company of Grove City, Ohio in April 2001, with construction beginning on July 3. The new cable-stayed suspension bridge was projected to be finished by June 2004.

Work fell behind schedule because of major weather events, including significant river floods, and design flaws on the bridge’s superstructure. ¹ C.J. Mahan Construction requested a contract renegotiation, which led to the project’s cost increasing to $38 million.

The new U.S. Grant Bridge opened to traffic on October 15, 2006. ²

Gallery

This is a photo of the U.S. Grant Bridge under construction in June 2005.

Information

• State: Kentucky, Ohio
• Route: US Route 23
• Type: Cable-Stay Suspension
• Status: Active - Automobile
• Total Length: 2,155 feet
• Main Span Length: 875 feet
• Deck Width: 28.7 feet
• Height: 292 feet

Sources

1. “U.S. Grant Bridge Project Summary.” Ohio Department of Transportation, 17 March 2004.
2. Barron, Jeff. “U.S. Grant Bridge to open today.” Portsmouth Daily Times, 15 Oct. 2006.