| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor |
| Fort Steuben Bridge
| Freedom Way Over Ohio River | Steubenville and Wierton: Jefferson County, Ohio and Brooke County, West Virginia | Metal Pony Truss Stiffening Cable Suspension, Stationary | 1928 By: Unknown |
| Technical Facts |
|
Construction Date |
Rehabilitation Date |
Structure Length | Roadway Width | Navigational Vertical Underclearance | Vertical Underclearance At Railroad |
| 1928 | 1972 | 1585 Feet (483.1 Meters) | 20.25 Feet (6.17 Meters) | 86 Feet (26.2 Meters) | 20.3 Feet (6.2 Meters) |
| Total Suspended Length | Center Suspension Span Length | Approach Suspension Span Length |
| 1251.75 Feet (381.5 Meters) | 688.75 Feet (210 Meters) | 2 At 283 Feet (86.26 Meters) Each |
This beautiful wonder of engineering is a classic 1920s wire-cable suspension bridge. It features a lattice design for the tower structure. Speaking of which, lattice can also be found, along with v-lacing in some areas of on the bridge, although no members of the stiffening truss have either. The top chords of the trusses have v-lacing however, and the towers have lattice. The bottoms of the towers have an attractive arch to them. Both Carnegie and Jones and Laughlin brands can be found on the various steel parts of the bridge. Compared to the fairly nearby Market Street Bridge, the towers on this bridge feel very tall and impressive. Some of this is due to the fairly narrow roadway width, which gives the illusion that the towers are taller. The bridge retains good overall historic integrity for a bridge of this size, although i-beams have been added that run parallel to the top chord of the stiffening truss. Other modifications include replacement of connection rivets with bolts.
Despite its obvious historic and more important aesthetic value, demolition is planned for this bridge. The DOTs who own this bridge say that every year the structure continues to deteriorate, and so the weight limit has to keep being lowered. Perhaps this is instead an indication that the DOTs are failing, not the bridge. Perhaps if the bridge had been properly maintained it would not be falling apart. Although it is the same age, Michigan and Ontario's Ambassador Bridge continues to serve traffic as the busiest North American international crossing! Even today, the Fort Steuben Bridge could and should still be restored. But instead, WVDOT and ODOT insist on demolishing this bridge, which itself will cost a fair chunk of change. They should instead focus funding into restoring this historic landmark and allowing it to continue to beatify Steubenville, Weirton, and the Ohio River. Such a graceful structure as a suspension bridge deserves to be left standing. Even people who are not generally "bridge enthusiasts" will often stop and photo a suspension bridge, because they are so large and impressive. To demolish a bridge such as this one is an atrocity to be sure. Both Ohio and West Virginia should be ashamed of themselves, not only for failing to maintain this bridge in the past, but also for not choosing to restore the bridge and make up for their past errors. The planned demolition of the Fort Steuben Bridge is ridiculous.
