| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor |
| Bellaire Bridge | 8th Street Over Ohio River | Bellaire and Benwood: Belmont County, Ohio and Marshall County, West Virginia | Metal Riveted Cantilever Through Truss, Stationary | 1926 By: Mount Vernon Bridge Company of Mount Vernon, Ohio |
| Technical Facts |
| Main Span Length | Ohio Approach Length (Now Removed) | West Virginia Approach Length | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 1250 Feet (381 Meters) | 670 Feet (204 Meters) | 850 Feet (259 Meters) | 1 | Numerous Plate Girder |
This monumental historic bridge is sometimes called the Bellaire Toll Bridge or simply the Interstate Bridge. The Mount Vernon Bridge Company and the J.E. Moss Iron Works were both contractors for the superstructure. R.R. Kitchen Company, which was based in Wheeling, did the deck. Vang Construction Company was responsible for the substructure. The bridge was designed by J. E. Greiner and Company.
The bridge operated as a toll bridge under the direction of the Interstate Bridge Company, and it closed to traffic in 1991. ODOT demolished the Ohio approach in 1991. A contractor named Roger Barack bought the bridge, and has done nothing with it since. The Coast Guard and Bellwood want the bridge demolished because they think it is a safety problem. Barack has ignored orders from the Coast Guard to have the bridge demolished. The Coast Guard would like to see the bridge demolished in Spring of 2008. The very thought that such a rare, historic, and beautiful bridge would be demolished is unthinkable, and only goes to show how flawed our country's historic preservation laws and transportation policies really are. The Bellaire Bridge is an indispensible resource that should be embraced, not thrown away.
The Bellaire Bridge is an old and long example of the most complex bridge design ever conceived, the cantilever truss. No other bridge type rivals the cantilever in terms of the complex network of steel, angles, and shape. Their complex geometric art makes these bridges beautiful, and worth preserving on aesthetic value alone. Among these bridges, the Bellaire Bridge stands out as an old, long, and particularly complex example of the type. It also features the important technology of the period, in the form of numerous built-up beams that feature attractive v-lacing and lattice to hold them together. The Bellaire Bridge is a key example of a major cantilever bridge. It represents a design that was used for large bridges in the first half of the twentieth century. Cantilever bridges are few in number across the nation since only so many rivers are large enough to need a cantilever, and moreover large rivers have fewer bridges crossing them. Nevertheless, these bridges, particularly the pre-1950 ones, are facing demolition at a frightening rate. If some are not saved now, it will be too late to save any.
There are several ways to preserve this bridge. The bridge could be restored and re-opened for light vehicular traffic. A ramp would be constructed to reconnect the bridge on the Ohio side. The approach on the West Virginia side could be repaired, or it would also be acceptable to demolish and reconstruct that approach. The main cantilever span is the part with the major historic significance. Another option would be to restore the bridge for pedestrian use only. The least expensive way to go about this would be to demolish the West Virginia approach, restore the cantilever, and construct stairways at each end of the bridge. With this option, the bridge itself could be turned into a park with benches, tables, etc, and also could feature interpretive signage explaining the history of the bridge, river, and the communities of Bellaire and Benwood.
In either solution, a restored Bellaire Bridge would be something that local bed and breakfasts could use to attract visitors to the area. With the proper marketing, the bridge could become a tourism asset for the area. Indeed, the general area shows potential as a historic bridge destination for tourists, with the historic bridges of Wheeling to the North. The restoration of the Bellaire Bridge is a logical choice.
Preservation of the Bellaire Bridge is not going to be cheap, but it is nevertheless essential. The benefits of preservation, particularly in years to come as these types of bridges only become more rare through attrition, will be great. In addition, regardless of cost, the fact remains that the Bellaire Bridge is a rare, beautiful, historic landmark. Undoubtedly, famous bridges like the Golden Gate Bridge are costly to maintain. However, the money is spent because the preservation of the structure is important. Much like the Golden Gate Bridge is a leader in the suspension bridge world, the Bellaire Bridge is a leader in the cantilever bridge world. It deserves the same level of preservation.
