Main Street Bridge

Information and Findings From Ohio's Historic Bridge Inventory

Summary of Significance

The 1948 continuous-cantilever design deck truss bridge is a later example of its type/design that is eligible from the prior inventory. No significant changes in the aspects of integrity were reported. The cantilever truss type/design developed in the U.S. during the 1880s and had emerged by the early 20th century as one of the dominant types for longer spans crossing deep or long rivers where it was difficult, if not impossible, to erect falsework. Truss designs used with cantilever trusses, e.g., Pratt or Warren, mirrored those of the period in which the bridge was built, as did the use of pinned or riveted connections. The great advantage of the cantilever is that it can be built outwards from the towers without falsework to block the channel. Suspended spans can be lifted into place between the cantilever arms. Span lengths of up to 500' are not uncommon, and in the longest examples can exceed 1,000'. The Ohio inventory includes 12 cantilever truss highway bridges dating from 1922 to 1960 (Phase 1A, 2008).

Justification

The bridge is one of 11 remaining examples of the design used for long, major crossings of both deck and thru trusses. They date from 1922 through the interstate era. This is not the most significant example. The bridge has moderate significance.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes