The Lorain-Carnegie Bridge, spanning the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, carries Ohio Route 10. It was the second high-level vehicular bridge to be completed over this valley.
History
As early as 1916, before the completion of the Detroit-Superior Bridge, there was a push for a third high-level vehicular crossing over the Cuyahoga River. 1 Although bond issues were approved for this purpose, World War I delayed any bridge development until 1924, when a City Planning Commission report recommended immediate construction of a viaduct to alleviate traffic congestion. The report also highlighted that the viaduct could serve as a major route from downtown to Shaker Square, especially with the ongoing construction of the Union Terminal complex.
In 1927, a 15-member Citizens Committee was formed to advise the county on the bridge’s construction. 1 In November, two bonds were passed: one for real estate acquisitions and another for the bridge’s construction itself.
A dual-level bridge design was proposed, featuring a 60-foot roadway with two seven-foot sidewalks on the upper level and two rapid transit tracks along with two truck-only lanes on the lower level. 1 3
Construction began in 1930, using concrete pilings for the piers and traditional timber piles for the river crossing. 1 The project involved drilling footings down to an average depth of 38 feet below river level, pouring approximately 71,000 yards of concrete, and using 13,000 tons of structural silicon steel, chosen for its high copper content and enhanced strength. Additionally, 10,000 tons of rock were quarried in Amherst for the sandstone railings.
The Lorain-Carnegie Bridge, costing $4 million, was completed and dedicated on November 9, 1932. 1 It was designed by engineer Wilbur J. Watson 1 and architects Frank Walker and Harry Weeks. 1 3 Notably, the bridge featured four 40-foot high Art Deco pylons, known as the “Guardians of Traffic,” designed by Frank Walker and built by Henry Hering of New York. 3 These sculptures were carved by hand, with straight-line work done by cutters.
Planned improvements on Lorain Avenue to complement the bridge opening were never realized due to the construction of the Main Avenue Bridge and the Innerbelt. 3 The only post-construction modification was the relocation of storefronts near the bridge for potential road widening.
In 1976, county engineer Albert Porter controversially proposed demolishing the iconic pylons, leading to public outcry and a heated response from Porter. 2 Porter stated that “those columns are monstrosities and should be torn down and forgotten. There is nothing particularly historic about any one of them. We’re not running a May Show here.” Preservationist Eric Johannesen then successfully applied to list the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge on the National Register of Historic Places, citing its unique monumental sculptures from the 1920s and 1930s. 3 It was a rare feat as the crossing was less than 50 years of age.
The bridge underwent a $22 million rehabilitation between 1980 and 1983, which included deck repairs, sidewalk replacement, statue cleaning, and replacing the sandstone railings with steel-reinforced concrete. 1 3 Upon reopening, it was renamed in honor of Harry Hope, Bob Hope’s father and a member of the original stoneworking team, though this decision and Bob Hope’s absence at the renaming ceremony received mixed reactions. 3
In the early 21st century, the bridge was rehabilitated again for $20 million, involving roadway resurfacing, bike lane additions, steel replacement, and superstructure repainting. 3 A subsequent $4.5 million project in May 2012 added a 14½-foot wide shared-use path for bikes and pedestrians, replacing two traffic lanes. 4 This project was a compromise between cycling advocates, who desired a path on the new Innerbelt Bridge, and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), who suggested the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge as a safer, more feasible alternative.
Gallery
Details
- State: Ohio
- Route: OH Route 10
- Status: Active (Automobile)
- Type: Pratt Deck Truss
- Total Length: 5,865'
- Main Span Length: 300'
- Spans: 0
- Deck Width: 74'
- Roadway Width: 0
- Height of Structure: 93'
- Above Vertical Clearance: 0
- Navigational Clearance: 0
Sources
- Watson, Sara Ruth, and John R. Wolfs. “The Four Great Viaducts.”Bridges of Metropolitan Cleveland. By Sara Ruth Watson and John R. Wolfs. N.p.: n.p., 1981. 23-28. Print.
- “Lorain-Carnegie Bridge.” HistoricBridges.org. n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2012. Article.
- Snook, Debbi. “Bridges of Hopes It’s beautiful. It’s monumental. Go ahead, name another bridge that has eight 40-foot-tall bodyguards with wings..” Plain Dealer [Cleveland] 2 Dec. 2002: L1. Print.
- Breckenridge, Tom. “Lorain-Carnegie Bridge to undergo $4.5 million redesign for pedestrians, bicyclists.” Plain Dealer [Cleveland] 28 May 2012. Web. 31 Aug. 2012. Article.