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Blaine Hill Viaduct

The Blaine Hill Viaduct carries U.S. Route 40 over Wheeling Creek in Blaine, Ohio.



History

The Blaine Hill Viaduct carries U.S. Route 40 over Wheeling Creek in Blaine, Ohio.

Designed by David Henry Overman, who created numerous bridges in the state, 1 the open-spandrel arch structure was built between 1932 and 1933. 2 3 It replaced the overburdened Blaine Hill “S” Bridge, which had been carrying over 2,700 vehicles daily. 3

After World War II, the bridge was renamed the Arches of Memory and dedicated to veterans. 1 2

The completion of Interstate 70 nearby in 1964 diverted much of U.S. Route 40’s traffic to the new freeway. 3 The viaduct underwent rehabilitation in 1982 1 and was rededicated by the local American Legion and Belmont County Council. 2 In 2011, it was extensively renovated, including repainting the concrete, rebuilding railings, installing a new deck, and performing general repairs.

The Blaine Hill Viaduct underwent annual inspections until August 2023, when the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) began conducting inspections every 90 days to ensure its safety. 5 Following an assessment that deemed the bridge unsafe, ODOT promptly closed it.

In 2023, ODOT launched a bridge rehabilitation project originally scheduled to begin in 2030. 5 However, rapid structural deterioration, including extensive leaking and cracking in the deck and damage to the columns and concrete, expedited the timeline. 6

In July 2024, traffic on the bridge was restricted due to growing safety concerns. 6 Initially, ODOT closed the westbound lanes and redirected eastbound traffic to them. However, reports from ODOT and the Ohio State Highway Patrol indicated that some drivers misunderstood or ignored posted signs, traveling westbound in the open eastbound lanes. On August 5, out of an abundance of caution, ODOT closed the bridge to all traffic.

ODOT, in collaboration with Michael Baker International, is developing rehabilitation plans. 5 The project is scheduled to go to bid in October 2025, with construction set to begin in 2026 and completion anticipated by spring 2027—five months ahead of the original schedule. The project will incorporate durable materials, such as advanced concrete sealants and resilient design elements, to enhance the bridge’s lifespan and preserve its architectural integrity. It will involve replacing the bridge’s 400 beams, the existing roadway deck, and the railing and patching the piers and arches.

The $13.5 million project is fully funded, and ODOT is actively pursuing additional federal grants, including a Bridge Investment Program grant and a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant, to bolster funding options. 5


Gallery


Details

  • State: Ohio
  • Route: US Route 40
  • Status: Active (Automobile)
  • Type: Open Spandrel Arch
  • Total Length: 754'
  • Main Span Length: 133'
  • Spans: 0
  • Deck Width: 0
  • Roadway Width: 0
  • Height of Structure: 80'
  • Above Vertical Clearance: 0
  • Navigational Clearance: 0


Sources

  1. Blaine Hill Viaduct.” HistoricBridges.org, June 2010.
  2. Bridge plaque.
  3. “Marker #11-7 Blaine Hill ‘S’ Bridge / Blaine Hill Viaduct.” Remarkable Ohio. Ohio Historical Society, 11 Jan. 2009.
  4. Blaine Hill Viaduct.” BridgeMapper, June 2010.
  5. Blaine Hill Bridge (U.S. Route 40) Rehabilitation Project.” Ohio Department of Transportation.
  6. Vota, Gage. “ODOT Gives Blaine Hill Bridge Update.” The Intelligencer, 11 Jan. 2025.

One Comment

  1. Duke Duke

    It is shut down now with renovations not scheduled to start until 2027….

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