Jennings Randolph Bridge

Jennings Randolph Bridge
Western side and northern portal
Coordinates	40°37′09″N 80°33′42″W
Carries	4 lanes of US 30
Crosses	Ohio River
Locale	East Liverpool, Ohio and Chester, West Virginia
Named for	Jennings Randolph
Owner	West Virginia Department of Transportation
Characteristics
Design	Continuous Truss Bridge
Longest span	745 feet (227 m)
History
Construction end	1977
Replaces	Chester Bridge
Location

The Jennings Randolph Bridge, built in 1977, is the largest Pratt truss bridge in North America. It spans ~3,400 feet (1,000 m) over the Ohio River between Chester, West Virginia and East Liverpool, Ohio, with main span of 745 feet (227 m). The bridge is located on U.S. Route 30 and is named after U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WV). The bridge replaced the 1897 Chester Bridge, and is West Virginia's northernmost crossing from its northern panhandle.[1]

Route 30 and the Jennings Randolph Bridge as it crosses the Ohio River, January 2019.

On December 11, 2023, the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) closed the bridge after a federally mandated inspection discovered cracking in two welds on the steel bridge structure. In the end, 20 defects were found the T-1 steel that used to build the bridge. The bridge was reopened on January 8, 2024.[2]

References

1. "Jennings-Randolph Bridge (1977)". structurae.de. Retrieved January 17, 2009.
2. Lynch, John (January 8, 2024). "Bridge that connects Ohio and West Virginia to open on Monday after 20 defects were found". WTRF. Retrieved January 13, 2024.

40°37′9.5″N 80°33′42.0″W

• List of crossings of the Ohio River