About Browns Island Bridges
The Browns Island bridges over the main channel and back channel of the Ohio River were constructed in 1970-72 by Allied Structural Steel of Hammond, Indiana for the Weirton Steel Corporation. 1 2 3 5 The main channel crossing was built to connect the steel mill with a new coke plant on Browns Island while the back channel was meant to be a temporary construction connection from the island to Costonia, Ohio. 3
Even before the Browns Island bridges were fully complete, they were being considered for use by the public while the Fort Steuben Bridge underwent major repairs. 1 The scheme was nixed because of the liability of public traffic mixing with company vehicles on narrow inter-plant roads next to active industrial buildings, blast furnaces, and railroad cars with hot metal.
The coke plant was shuttered in 1982 because of a major plant downsizing. 4
Structure
Dimensions & Classification
| Structural Form | Through Truss — Warren |
|---|---|
| Total Length | 1,312 feet |
| Main Span | 640 feet |
Photographs
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Sources & Citations
References for this location, in MLA format.
Show all 6 sources
- “New Browns Island Bridge To Be Limited.” Weirton Daily Times, 1 Mar. 1972, pp. 1-2.
- “Browns Island Coke Plant To Be Completed In Sept.” Weirton Daily Times, 6 Apr. 1972, pp. 1-2.
- “Coke Plant On Island 40 Percent Complete.” Weirton Daily Times, 7 Oct. 1971, pp. 1-2.
- Brennan, James J. “Weirton Steel Plans To Close Coke Plant.” Pittsburgh Press, 20 Aug. 1982.
- “Weirton Steel Project Advanced.” Evening Review, 11 Oct. 1971, p. 19.
- “Bridge Planned to Browns Island.” Weirton Daily Times, 21 Apr. 1970, p. 1.
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