Interstate 470 Bridge

{{Infobox bridge

|bridge_name= Interstate 470 Bridge

|image= Vietnam Vet Bridge-Wheeling P2100033.JPG

|image_size= 300px

|alt=

|caption= The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge is a four-lane tied arch bridge in the United States. It carries Interstate 470 over the Ohio River between Bellaire, Ohio and Wheeling, West Virginia.

|official_name= Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge

|other_name=

|carries= 4 lanes of {{jct|state=OH|I|470}}

|crosses= Ohio River

|locale= Bellaire, Ohio and Wheeling, West Virginia

|owner=

|maint= West Virginia Department of Transportation

|id= 00000000035A123

|architect=

|designer=

|engineering=

|design= Tied-arch bridge

|length= {{convert|409|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|width=

|height=

|mainspan= {{convert|239|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|spans=

|pierswater=

|load=

|clearance= {{convert|21|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|below=

|life=

|builder=

|fabricator=

|begin= {{start date|1975}}

|complete= 1983

|cost=

|open=

|inaugurated=

|traffic=

|coordinates = {{coord|40.0498|-80.7307|display=inline,title}}

|references= {{NBI |structurenumber= 00000000035A123 |datakey= 709233 |linkwork= yes |linkpub= yes |accessdate=January 12, 2014}}{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=phNEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1356,1791787&dq=interstate-470-bridge&hl=en |title= Problems Stall Ohio River Span Opening |date= July 24, 1983 |work= Sunday Times-Sentinel |accessdate= January 29, 2011 |location= Point Pleasant, West Virginia |agency= Associated Press }}

}}

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge is a four-lane tied arch bridge in the United States. It carries Interstate 470 over the Ohio River between Bellaire, Ohio and Wheeling, West Virginia.

History

Construction on the tied-arch bridge began in 1975, and was scheduled to be completed by 1981. Frays in the vertical hanger cables delayed the opening of the bridge, which was scheduled to open in July 1981.{{cite news|date=April 27, 1981|title=Frayed Cables Delay Span|page=1|work=Daily Times|agency=Associated Press|location=Portsmouth, Ohio|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VilGAAAAIBAJ&pg=5483,5010186&dq=interstate-470+ohio-river&hl=en|accessdate=January 29, 2011}} Additionally, delays in completing Ohio State Route 7 along the western shores of the river and Interstate 470 also resulted in the bridge not fully opening.

The estimated cost to construct the span was about $54 million.{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yCJDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5458,5045166&dq=interstate-470+ohio-river&hl=en|title=New Bridges to Cut Down Travel Time |last= Hodel|first= Martha Bryson |date= November 20, 1980 |work= The Daily Sentinel |page= 1 |accessdate= January 29, 2011 |location= Middleport, Ohio |agency= Associated Press}}

The opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge, along with another bridge in nearby Moundsville was thought to have reduced the amount of traffic, and thus tolls collected by the nearby Bellaire Bridge by up to 50 percent in 1987.{{cite news |title= For Sale: 1 Toll Bridge In The Heart Of The 'Rust Belt' |last= Harrison |first= Eric |work= The Philadelphia Inquirer |page= A19 |date= March 1, 1987 |id = {{ProQuest|286123854}}}}

References

External links

{{Structurae|id=20009561}}
[http://bridgestunnels.com/location/vietnam-veterans-memorial-bridge/ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge] at Bridges & Tunnels

{{Crossings navbox

|structure= Bridges

|place= Ohio River

|bridge= Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge

|bridge signs= 25px

|upstream= Wheeling Steel Bridge
(demolished)

|upstream signs =

|downstream= Bellaire Bridge
(closed)

|downstream signs =

}}

Category:Bridges over the Ohio River

Category:Transportation in Ohio County, West Virginia