One of six vehicular bridges over the Cuyahoga River, the Columbus Road Lift Bridge serves as a main throughway to the historic Flats District. The river is a major shipping route, which meant the shipping channel could not be obstructed during construction. Thus, the 241-ft 9.5-in. lift span was erected fully on land—including electrical and mechanical components—and then transferred onto a barge utilizing self-propelled modular transport units and floated down river, there to be set in place during a U.S. Coast Guard-granted 72-hour channel interruption.
COLUMBUS ROAD LIFT BRIDGE
LOCATION: Cleveland, Ohio
COST: $30.3 million
LENGTH: 342 ft
DESIGNER: TranSystems
CONTRACTOR: American Bridge
OWNER: Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works
