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1. Lorain County encompasses 495 square miles, has 9 incorporated cities, 7 incorporated villages and 18 unincorporated townships, housing over 271,000 people.
It also has 231 bridges that the County Engineer is responsible for monitoring, maintaining & repairing (and if necessary, replacing). Additionally there are over 1,100 culverts the Engineer maintains, but it is some of the 231 bridges that we will examine here.
Any structure with a span of over 10 feet is considered a bridge. Less than 10 feet is termed a 'culvert'.
Bridges within Lorain County cover spans from 10 feet to 1,700 feet! - The latter being the Lofton Henderson Memorial bridge across the Black River in the city of Lorain.
2. Many years ago, when roads were first being built to accommodate the rapid explosion of automobile travel in Ohio and Lorain County, bridges were needed to span the many rivers and streams these new highways needed to traverse.
Those earlier bridges, constructed of stone, wood, concrete and metal, were erected to meet the need. They have performed admirably, and in some cases, far beyond expected usable life-spans.
Throughout the years those structures had endured and performed a yeoman's job, carrying the weight of cars and heavy trucks, enduring mother natures drastic weather changes... But those rigors and the unstoppable 'Father time' eventually take their toll.
Nowadays, bridges are being replaced & rehabilitated throughout Lorain County and Ohio, using stronger, longer-lasting materials and modern technology throughout,... Sound Engineering Construction methods are employed but one thing remains the same.
At the Lorain County Engineer Office, detailed inspections are made annually, with the results recorded and the information placed in a special computerized Bridge tracking program. From these inspections and the information compiled, Engineers are able to determine which bridges need repair or replacement. And, are able to extend the usable life of the bridges by employing preventative maintenance & monitoring.
Repair & replacement is accomplished on a priority basis, using the inspection monitoring and bridge tracking programs. The County Engineer's Office sometimes supplies funding for these projects from its own budget. But, because such massive rehabilitation programs are becoming numerous as the older bridges approach the end of their usable life spans, The County Engineer draws from specifically designated government assistance programs, like the Ohio Public Works Commission ( Issue 2 ) to help finance the projects. Without such assistance, it would be impossible to finance all the needed reconstructions & repairs.
3. In Lorain County there are several significant different styles or designs of bridges, and several variations within some of those designs.
Probably the two most noted and recognized structures are the "Twin Bridges" of Lorain, both crossing the Black River. (1) The Lofton Henderson Memorial Bridge, or "High Level Bridge", a massive 1,700 foot single span 'Through Truss Cantilever Style' And (2) the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge, or "Erie Ave Bridge", a double-leaf Bascule (Jackknife) style bridge. ("bascule" alluding to the method of using counter weights at the base of each leaf to assist in raising & lowering). When completed, and for many years thereafter, the Erie Ave. Bascule Bridge was the largest of it’s type in the world!
Both of these bridges went under construction at the same time, in November of 1938, and were completed and dedicated in a grand ceremony on Sept. 25, 1940... At the time, estimated costs to erect the bridges were: (1) $1,363,560 for the "High Level" and (2) - $1,368,400 for the "Erie Ave. Bridge".
4. Time, as well as Wear and Tear did their damage.
The Bridges underwent major rehabilitation projects starting in 1987, stripping/replacing roadway surfaces, strengthening piers and superstructures, re-engineering electrical motors and machinery as well as complete painting.
The Lofton Henderson (High Level) Memorial Bridge was rehabilitated at a cost of: $8,600,000.00 and the Berry Bascule Bridge (Erie Ave.) at $9,600,000.00 respectively!
The Erie Ave. Bascule was officially renamed the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge on November 11, 1988, in honor of Marine Corporal Charles Berry. A Congressional Medal of Honor recipient & Lorain native who gave his life to save the lives of others by covering an enemy grenade with his body in a foxhole on the island of Iwo Jima in World War 2.
5. The 21st Street High Level was renamed the Lofton Henderson Memorial Bridge on October 21, 1991, after Major Lofton Henderson, of Lorain, who gave his life during a World War II Naval Battle, crashing his airplane into a Japanese warship.
6. Although these two large bridges may be the most prominent, they are by no means the whole picture, and represent only a small portion of the many different bridges & styles in Lorain County.
Let's take a look at some of these other bridge structures, constructed in the late 1800’s and throughout the 1900’s, as well as some of the modern bridges being built today.
Of the arched bridges, the most prevalent are the 'Warren Truss' structures. So named for their original designer's specific style of arched panels and strengthening 'truss' members on each side.
These bridges were built in a variety of sizes, from single-span trusses - where only one length, or set of panels was required from one side to the other-, to double-span trusses, where two sets of panels were required to cross the river, using a center pier structure as a support for one end of each set of panels.
7. Let’s take a look at some examples of both of those types of structures:
In addition to these two popular types there are also some unique bridges still standing and being used. Constant monitoring and maintenance keep these bridges useful and safe.
One particular unique structure style is the Dean Road Bridge, a 'Porter Through Truss' crossing the Vermilion River in Henrietta Township.
8. However, most of the bridges being built today, either as totally new structures or to replace older deteriorating bridges, are made of pre-stressed concrete & steal beams. These bridges are wider, stronger and built to last at least 50 years with proper maintenance.
There are some exceptions, however, when replacing some older bridges with new ones. One being the 'Mill Hollow' bridge. The bridge crosses the Vermilion River on North Ridge Road, inside the Lorain Metro Parks’ Mill Hollow Reservation in Brownhelm Township.
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Lorain County Engineer
