Jeremiah Morrow Bridge

Jeremiah Morrow Bridge
Coordinates	39°25′9.76″N 84°6′14.47″W
Carries	I-71
Crosses	Little Miami River
Locale	Fort Ancient and Oregonia, Ohio
Characteristics
Design	Continuous truss
Clearance below	239 feet (73 m)
History
Opened	1965
Statistics
Toll	No
Location

The Jeremiah Morrow Bridge is a pair of parallel continuous truss bridges which span the Little Miami River gorge between Fort Ancient and Oregonia, Ohio. The bridges are named for Governor Jeremiah Morrow.

The deck truss bridge uses a modified Warren truss design and is continuous across five spans. The bridges carry Interstate 71 and are 239 feet (73 m) above the river, making them the highest bridges in Ohio. Additionally, the bridges are approximately 2300 ft (700m) in length, making them two of the longest interstate bridges in the state. Each bridge carries two lanes of traffic.

Both spans were replaced beginning in 2010, with an official completion of all major work in November 2016. The original bridges were approximately the same design and age as the I-35W Mississippi River bridge which collapsed in 2007. Demolition of the original bridge will be completed on April 23, 2017.

Replacement of the Jeremiah Morrow Bridge

Jeremiah Morrow Bridge
Coordinates	39°25′9.76″N 84°6′14.47″W
Carries	Interstate 71
Crosses	Little Miami River
Locale	Fort Ancient and Oregonia, Ohio
Characteristics
Total length	2,240 ft (680 m)
Height	239 ft (73 m)
Design life	75 to 100 years
History
Construction start	2 August 2010
Construction end	18 November 2016
Construction cost	$88 million
Location

In July 2010, a 6-year project to replace the bridge began with the beginning phases of access roads to the gorge being constructed. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Aug. 2, 2010.

The new bridge design will involve a segmental concrete box girder, with 440-foot (130 m) main span, perched on concrete piers anchored in the river valley. The design was selected for its constructability, low cost and aesthetics. Each structure will measure 2,240 feet (680 m) in length and 55 feet (17 m) in width. Each structure’s six spans will range in length from 270 feet (82 m) to 440 feet (130 m) to 229 feet (70 m), and pier height will range from 60 to 220 feet (67 m). Each structure will be marked for three lanes and wide shoulders; width would permit reconfiguration of span for four lanes and shoulders for any future widening of I-71. Construction is managed by Omnipro Services, LLC and will involve four phases:

1. Preparatory work beneath the existing twin steel deck-truss bridges

2. Construction of the southbound structure between the existing north and southbound spans.

3. Move northbound traffic onto new structure, followed by demolition of existing northbound bridge and construction of new northbound structure in its place.

4. Move traffic into its final configuration - northbound traffic onto new northbound bridge and southbound traffic onto new southbound bridge, with demolition of existing southbound bridge to follow.

Throughout construction, two lanes of traffic in each direction will be maintained. However, there will be some night time lane closures during phase II. The estimated amount of concrete to be used in the project is approximately 58,000 cubic yards.

The new dual span construction project's completion was marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony held on November 18, 2016.

See also

• Ohio portal
• List of bridges in the United States by height

External links

• ODOT Structural Engineering
• ODOT Corridor 17
• ODOT aerial photo of Morrow Bridge
• Corwin to Morrow trail description, with photo of bridges from below
• Bridge photos from the Little Miami Scenic Trail