William H. Harsha Bridge

The William H. Harsha Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that crosses the Ohio River between Maysville in Ohio and Aberdeen in Kentucky. Its design features tall towers with cables radiating downward to support the roadway that carries traffic between the two states.

This structure was built starting in 1997 and finished in 2000, making it Kentucky's first cable-stayed bridge. The improved connection between the two riverbanks had been a long-time regional need.

The bridge honors William Harsha, who represented Ohio in the United States House of Representatives from 1961 to 1981.

The structure accommodates vehicles of all sizes since it is designed to handle heavy loads. Pedestrians can walk across and enjoy open views of the river and surrounding landscape while doing so.

The bridge features special spiral-shaped plastic devices wrapped around the steel cables to prevent unwanted vibrations. This engineering solution shows how designers solved problems that had affected other modern bridges.

Location: Ohio

Location: Kentucky

Official opening: 2000

GPS coordinates: 38.68460,-83.78190

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:01