Victory Parkway Bridge

Information and Findings From Ohio's Historic Bridge Inventory

Setting/Context

The bridge carries a 4 lane street and sidewalks over a park road at the north entrance to Eden Park in the Mt. Adams section of Cincinnati. The bridge was built in 1916-17 to replace a truss and provide a more appropriate entrance to the park. To the north is a residential area of mostly early 20th century, revival-style houses, although there are some modern high rises mixed in. A park overlook and the Eden Park Bridge (3160726) are to the south.

Physical Description

The 9 span, 472'-long bridge has a 3-ribbed open spandrel arch main span and T beam approach spans. The architectonic bridge has molding to accent the ribs, octagonal section spandrel columns with flared capitals and arched caps, and cantilevered sidewalks with concrete balustrades. There are paneled pilasters with capitals at the piers. The T-beam spans have arched fasciae beams.

Integrity

Cantilevered sidewalks and balustrades added in 1939. Rehabilitated in 1990 with some in-kind patching/repair to concrete.

Summary of Significance

There have been no changes in the bridge's status since the previous inventory. The eligible recommendation remains appropriate. This is a fine example of its type/design reflecting the architectural tastes of the City Beautiful Movement. There are 25 open spandrel arch bridges dating from 1907 to 1957 in the inventory (Phase 1A, 2008).

"The reinforced concrete open spandrel arch was first constructed around 1906. It was the dominant form for concrete bridges in the 1920s and 1930s. By eliminating the walls and fill material of the closed spandrel, dead loads were reduced and cost savings were seen in materials with the open spandrel. Aesthetics was another factor with the open spandrel. They had a lightness and visual appeal and were used in prominent or scenic locations. Open spandrel construction marked engineering prowess during the 1930s and 1940s. By the 1940s, the open spandrel concrete structure began to be supplanted by the more pre-stressed beam and reinforced concrete girder structures. Open spandrel arch bridges have pierced spandrel wall with no fill material, and the spandrel columns transmit dead and live load from the deck to the arch. The arch ring may be either solid (barrel) or ribbed. Open spandrel arch bridges require more formwork to construct than filled spandrel bridges. Open spandrel concrete arches, while not uncommon, are not as common as many other bridge types built during this same era. They are significant because they represent the evolution of concrete technology. To be considered significant, open spandrel arches should have integrity through the retention of their character-defining features, which include arch ribs, ring or barrel; spandrel; spandrel columns; railing or parapet; and piers, abutments, and wingwalls." [From: A Context for Common Historic Bridge Types by Parsons Brinckerhoff, October 2005]

Justification

Because of the early emphasis on aesthetics at the local and state levels, Ohio has an impressive assemblage of long and shorter open spandrel arch bridges dating from 1907 through World War II. Twenty-three of the 25 predate World War II.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes