History
Built in 1922, the Harpold Bridge is a Pratt through truss structure spanning Mill Creek, south of Ripley. Its construction was part of an extensive project to enhance U.S. Route 21 between Charleston and Parkersburg. 1 This included widening the road for two eight-foot-wide concrete lanes and erecting modern bridges over streams.
By 1949, U.S. Route 21 was rerouted from Ripley to Fairplain, leading to the Harpold Bridge’s reclassification as County Route 25. It underwent rehabilitation in 1984.
In March 2015, the bridge was rechristened as the Harry Ripley Memorial Bridge in honor of a settler from the 1820s. 2 Ripley, an itinerant preacher, tragically drowned near the bridge location just days before marrying a local woman, at the age of 31.
Structure
Dimensions & Classification
| Structural Form | Through Truss — Pratt |
|---|---|
| Total Length | 103' |
| Main Span | 98' |
| Number of Spans | 1 |
| Deck Width | 18'4" |
| Vertical Clearance | 12'1" |
Photographs
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