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Ohio OCEA Award Winner - 1998

Renovation of the Veterans Memorial Bridge, 1998

Owner: ODOT, Cuyahoga County Engineer

Location: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County

Nominated by: Michael J. Schipper, P.E., HNTB Ohio, Inc.

Description: When Cleveland's landmark Veterans Memorial Bridge opened in 1917, it was the longest double-decked, reinforced concrete bridge in the world. The twelve concrete arch approach spans and 591 foot, three-hinged, steel arch, center span were renovated and widened in the 1960s. By the 1980s the bridge's condition had become critical due to a failed paint system and ineffective drainage. The renovation included the replacement of 1.4 million pounds of structural steel and 80% of the concrete from the lower deck up. The lower arches and piers were extensively repaired. Construction sequencing was critical to avoid interference with other construction beneath the bridge. The addition of decorative lighting has made the bridge a focal point of Cleveland's entertainment district. The care given to architectural details restored the 1917 appearance of the bridge.