Lane Avenue Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lane Avenue Bridge |
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The bridge looking Northeast
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| Coordinates | 40°00′23″N 83°01′19″W / 40.006500°N 83.02200°W |
| Carries | Lane Avenue Add→ 1 |
| Crosses | Olentangy River |
| Locale | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| Maintained by | Franklin County Engineer |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cable Stayed |
| Total length | 370 ft (113 m) |
| Piers in water | 1 |
| History | |
| Designer | Jones-Stuckey Ltd., Civil Engineering Firm, Columbus, Ohio |
| Construction begin | 2002 |
| Construction end | 2003 |
| Opened | November 14, 2003 |
The Lane Avenue Bridge is a special kind of bridge in Columbus, Ohio. It stretches across the Olentangy River. This bridge is known as a cable-stayed bridge, which means it uses strong cables to hold up the main part of the bridge.
The Lane Avenue Bridge was designed by a company called Jones-Stuckey Ltd. Building it was very quick! It only took 16 months to finish, which was five months faster than planned. The bridge officially opened on November 14, 2003.
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About the Bridge
The Lane Avenue Bridge is about 113 meters (370 feet) long. It has six lanes for cars and trucks, each about 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) wide. There are also two sidewalks, each 3.5 meters wide, for people to walk or bike on.
Why a Cable-Stayed Design?
The designers chose the cable-stayed style for a few reasons. First, it looks really cool and modern. Second, this design is better for the environment around the river. It causes less disturbance to the natural area below.
Strongest Steel Parts
Some parts of the bridge are super strong! The pieces that hold the cables in place are called anchorages. Each one weighs 47 tons, which is about 104,000 pounds! These were the heaviest single pieces of steel ever to be galvanized. Galvanizing is a process that coats steel with zinc to protect it from rust.
How the Bridge Was Funded
Building a big bridge like this costs a lot of money. The total cost for the Lane Avenue Bridge was about US$15.6 million. Different groups helped pay for it:
- The Ohio Public Works Commission gave $5 million.
- The Federal Highway Administration also gave $5 million.
- The Franklin County Engineer's Office contributed $3.2 million.
- The City of Columbus provided $2.4 million.
The Old Bridge
Before this modern bridge, there was an older one on Lane Avenue. That bridge was an arch bridge with three lanes, and it opened way back in 1919. By 1998, engineers realized the old bridge was getting old and needed to be replaced.
Construction on the new Lane Avenue Bridge began on February 27, 2002. The old bridge was taken down on November 25, 2002. This happened right after the last home football game at Ohio Stadium, which is nearby.
