Silver Bridge

Silver Bridge was a suspension structure about 681 meters long across the Ohio River, linking West Virginia with Ohio. The construction used eyebar chains made of thick, bone-shaped steel bars connected by large pins that supported the roadway with two traffic lanes.

The American Bridge Company constructed the structure in 1928 with a new chain design that used heat-treated steel instead of conventional wire cables. In December 1967, a tiny crack in one eyebar caused the sudden collapse, after which a replacement crossing with more stable cantilever architecture opened in 1969.

The name came from the aluminum paint coating that gave the structure its distinctive silvery appearance. Engineers and travelers remembered the structure for its simple, functional design that was considered modern at the time and efficiently moved traffic between both riverbanks.

A small memorial plaque near the riverbank marks the original location and informs visitors about the engineering significance of the former crossing. A nearby museum displays a model and a chain fragment from the earlier structure.

Investigations after 1967 revealed that corrosion from road salt spreading during winter accelerated crack growth, even though this practice was routine at the time. The incident led to the establishment of the National Bridge Inspection Program, which mandates regular safety reviews for all major crossings.

Location: West Virginia

Official opening: May 30, 1928

Length: 681 m

GPS coordinates: 38.84500,-82.14111

Latest update: December 5, 2025 07:58