Pomeroy–Mason Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pomeroy–Mason Bridge |
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View of bridge from West Virginia side
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| Coordinates | 39°00′48″N 82°02′29″W / 39.01333°N 82.04139°W |
| Carries | 4 lanes of   WV 62 Spur/ SR 833 & 1 sidewalk |
| Crosses | Ohio River |
| Locale | Pomeroy, Ohio/Mason, West Virginia |
| Official name | Bridge of Honor |
| Maintained by | West Virginia Division of Highways |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cable Stayed |
| Material | Concrete |
| Total length | 1,852 ft (564 m) |
| Width | 77 ft (23 m) |
| Height | 248 ft (76 m) |
| Longest span | 675 ft (206 m) |
| Number of spans | 10 |
| Piers in water | 2 |
| Clearance below | 74 ft (23 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | URS Corp |
| Construction begin | 2003 |
| Construction end | 2008 |
| Opened | December 30, 2008 |
The Pomeroy–Mason Bridge is also known as the Bridge of Honor. It's a special kind of bridge called a cable-stayed bridge. This means it uses strong cables connected to tall towers to hold up the bridge deck. It crosses the Ohio River, connecting Pomeroy, Ohio and Mason, West Virginia.
Building the bridge was a big job! The C.J. Mahan Construction Company built it. The Ohio Department of Transportation watched over the project. The bridge was finished on December 30, 2008. After it was done, the West Virginia Division of Highways took over its care. This bridge helps cars travel on Ohio State Route 833 and West Virginia Route Spur 62.
Contents
Building the Bridge: Challenges and Successes
The Pomeroy–Mason Bridge was supposed to open in 2006. However, some unexpected problems caused delays. Work started in 2003, but nature threw some challenges its way.
Overcoming Construction Delays
River floods made it hard to work on the foundations. The ground under the bridge wasn't very stable. There was even a rock slide that caused more delays. These issues meant the bridge took longer to build than planned. In the end, the bridge cost about $65 million to finish.
A Bridge That Shines
When night falls, the bridge becomes a beautiful sight. Purple lights shine on its cables and towers. This makes the bridge glow and stand out in the dark.
The Old Bridge: A Look Back
Before the new bridge, there was an older one in its place. This old bridge had a long history.
Life of the Former Bridge
The original bridge was built in 1928. It was a two-lane Cantilever bridge. For many years, it carried U.S. Highway 33. In 2003, its number changed to State Route 833. This happened because US 33 moved to a new highway that led to the Ravenswood Bridge.
Saying Goodbye to the Old Bridge
The middle part of the old bridge was taken down on April 21, 2009. This happened at 8:49 a.m. Many people watched from the Pomeroy levee. The demolition was even shown live online by WSAZ from Huntington, West Virginia. An eight-year-old boy was chosen to press the button that set off the demolition!
River traffic had to stop for 24 hours. This allowed workers to clean up the area safely. The rest of the old bridge was removed by June 2009. Taking down just the middle part cost about $1 million.
