Simon Kenton Suspension Bridge

The Simon Kenton Suspension Bridge carries US Route 62 over the Ohio River between Maysville, Kentucky and Aberdeen, Ohio.

The first proposal of a fixed Ohio River crossing at Maysville came in the 1920s during a time when the cities of Maysville and Augusta were competing upon the location of the bridge. Maysville was selected as the location of the Kentucky approach to the proposed crossing on November 8, 1930, partly because of its location along US Routes 62 and 68 and Routes 8 and 10 in Kentucky, and its access to US Route 52 in Ohio. ¹ A construction contract to the Dravco Construction Company and the John A. Roebling Sons Company were let.

The new Simon Kenton Suspension Bridge was completed at the cost of $1.6 million and opened to traffic at 10:30 AM on November 25, 1931. ¹ Opening ceremonies including the stringing of lights across the bridge.

The state announced plans to end the toll on the bridge on August 1, 1945, and collections ceased on October 1. ¹ The much-celebrated event featured a parade in downtown Maysville with nearly 10,000 in attendance. The Maysville Rotary and Lions clubs also held celebrations.

The Simon Kenton Suspension Bridge was rehabilitated in 2002, which involved the replacement of the driving deck and the re-painting of the crossing in battleship gray paint.