Wellsburg Bridge, Tied-arch bridge across Ohio River between Wellsburg, West Virginia, and Brilliant, Ohio, United States.
The Wellsburg Bridge is a tied-arch steel bridge that crosses the Ohio River between Wellsburg, West Virginia, and Brilliant, Ohio. The structure uses a curved arch design and spans approximately 250 meters (830 feet) with a clearance of about 24 meters (80 feet) above the water.
The bridge originated from a regional transportation plan created in 1998 that identified the need for a new crossing to address outdated infrastructure. It was completed and opened to traffic in 2021 to replace structures with weight limitations.
The bridge represents a moment of community connection, as locals gathered to witness the main span being positioned during its installation. This shared experience reinforced a sense of togetherness across both riverbanks.
Crossing here eliminates the need to drive miles in either direction to find an alternative route between the two riverbanks. The bridge offers a direct path that significantly reduces travel time between these communities.
The main span, weighing about 1900 tons, was one of the heaviest structures ever transported by barge and lifted into place in a single operation. This exceptional engineering feat made the installation process itself noteworthy.
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