Ida Street Bridge

Information and Findings From Ohio's Historic Bridge Inventory

Setting/Context

The bridge carries a 2 lane street and sidewalks over a 2 lane street and valley in the Mt. Adams section of Cincinnati. The setting is a mix of early 20th century residential and commercial buildings with some modern buildings, including an apartment complex to the northeast of the bridge.

Physical Description

The 8 span, 388'-long bridge has two open spandrel arch main spans flanked by T beam approach spans with arched fascia beams. The 2-rib arch spans have spandrel columns with arched caps. The T beam spans have the interior beams transverse to the roadway and are framed into the arched fasciae beams. The bridge is finished in the Moderne style with stepped pilasters, pylons, and balustrades. The balustrades are a custom design with an alternating pattern of vertical scores, posts, and slats.

Integrity

Rehabilitated in 1981.

Summary of Significance

The Ida Street Viaduct is NR listed (1980). The 1931 open spandrel arch bridge is a handsome architectonic example in the Art Moderne-style that was so popular in Cincinnati in the late 1920s to 1930s. There are 25 open spandrel arch bridges dating from 1907 to 1957 in the inventory (Phase 1A, 2008).

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. This example is representative of the genre and is of moderate level of significance.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes