| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor |
| Inner Belt Bridge I-90 Cuyahoga River Bridge |
I-90 Over Cuyahoga River | Cleveland: Cuyahoga County, Ohio | Metal Riveted Cantilever Deck Truss, Stationary | 1959 By: Unknown |
| Technical Facts |
| Structure Length | Structure Length | Roadway Width | Bridge Width | Total Length of Truss Spans | Longest Main Span Length | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 5078 Feet (1547.8 Meters) | 4223 Feet (1287.2 Meters) | 110 Feet (33.5 Meters) | 116.25 Feet (35.4 Meters) | 2721 Feet (829.4 Meters) | 400 Feet (121.9 Meters) | 9 | 33 Steel Stringer |
This bridge has held the record of being the widest bridge in Ohio. Although one of the youngest historic bridges in Cleveland, the structure is a very impressive structure that is worthy of preservation. The bridge features multiple deck cantilever truss spans of varying size. The bridge also features a pleasing curve that adds to the aesthetic value of the bridge.
ODOT is conducting a study to determine how to improve I-90. Among the alternatives, demolition of this historic bridge is being considered. It is unfortunate to see that some citizens of Cleveland support this proposal. They think that the demolition of this bridge and construction of a single cable-stayed "signature" bridge will make the city more appealing than other options, such as preservation of the historic bridge and construction of a second parallel bridge to form a one-way couplet. The people of Cleveland are misled, and need look no further than Toledo and the Ohio River to see that Cable-Stayed bridges are the Walmart of bridges... cheap, plentiful, undistinguished, and being built everywhere. In contrast, bridges like the historic Inner Belt Bridge are rapidly disappearing as they are demolished and replaced with those cable-stayed bridges. The preservation of historic bridges is what will make the city of Cleveland attractive to current and prospective residents. This solution has worked well for the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whose downtown area is doing quite well. That city has also preserved most of its downtown area bridges, and the pleasing variety of historic bridges in their downtown no doubt adds to the charm of the city.
People interested in this project have been fighting to get a non-motorized path integrated into a new Inner Belt Bridge. One novel option that could be considered is to add a cantilevered walkway below the main deck of the historic bridge, beside the trusses of the structure. This solution would allow pedestrians to view the trusses of the bridge, and also separate them from high-speed interstate traffic. These are the types of creative ideas that can enhance a city and also extend the usefulness of a historic bridge.
