Robert C. Byrd Bridge

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Robert C. Byrd Bridge
The Robert C. Byrd Bridge, as seen from Harris Riverfront Park
Carries	4 lanes of OH 527 / WV 527
Crosses	Ohio River
Locale	Chesapeake, Ohio and Huntington, West Virginia
Maintained by	West Virginia Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Transportation
Design	continuous truss
Total length	720 ft (219 m)
Opening date	November 6, 1994

The Robert C. Byrd Bridge is a 720 foot continuous truss automobile bridge that crosses the Ohio River between Huntington, West Virginia and Chesapeake, Ohio. The crossing was constructed to replace an old, narrow two lane structure that was demolished after 69 years of service in a spectatular implosion on July 17, 1995. The previous bridge, opened in 1926, was Huntington's first bridge across the Ohio River and was designed in a gothic style, complete with four two-ton spires that rested on top of each peak.

The ground breaking ceremonies for the four-lane bridge was held on April 30, 1991. James Watkins, of the Ohio Department of Transportation, stated that the importance of the new four-lane span would only be heightened by the construction of the Chesapeake-Proctorville State Route 7 bypas that would "begin in 1996 ^[1]." Work on the bypas did not begin until 2000.

The old 6th Street Bridge closed in the summer of 1993 to allow for the construction of the ramps and approaches in West Virginia and Ohio ^[1]. The new bridge was named the Robert C. Byrd Bridge under an executive order from former Governor Gaston Caperton to honor the U.S. senator from West Virginia who is credited with obtaining the funding for the project that was completed on November 6, 1994. The $32.6 million bridge was constructed with $1.4 coming from Ohio, $5.6 coming from West Virginia, and $25.3 in federal funds.

The famous spires, which once adorned the top of the former span, were saved. One is currently on display outside of the Chesapeake city hall at the intersection of State Route 7 and the Robert C. Byrd Bridge ^[2]. Two others are installed along 9th Street between 3rd and 5th Avenues ^[3].

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b "Bridge opening sparks memories." The Ironton Tribune. 6 Nov. 1994.
^ "Bridge's old spire getting a new lease." Herald Dispatch. 29 Oct. 1995.
^ Chambers, Bryan. "Plaza to reopen in December." 26 Nov. 2006 Herald-Dispatch [Huntington]. 27 27 Nov. 2006 [1].