Columbus, Ohio’s distinctive bridge
On July 30, Columbus, Ohio, opened its new Main Street Bridge, replacing a deteriorated concrete art deco-styled bridge that was built in 1937. The new steel bridge across the Scioto River connects downtown Columbus with the Franklinton neighborhood and features separate pedestrian and vehicular decks, and a distinctive single rib-tied arch inclined at a 10-degree angle from vertical.
The bridge lanes are unified on both ends, and gradually rise and separate into three lanes for vehicle traffic and an 18-foot-wide lane for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. The 675-foot-bridge cost $60.1 million to build, and was funded by federal, state and local funds. Spiro Pollalis, professor of design technology and management at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, designed the bridge, and locally based DLZ Ohio Inc. and its subconsultant, Kansas City, Mo.-based HNTB Corp., finalized the bridge plans.