Photos
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All That Remains of this bridge is a monument The original three-arch closed spandrel bridge carried US 30 from 1927 until US 30 was relocated to the south as a superhighway. Named highways were eliminated in 1926 when today's familiar highway numbering system was implemented. The highway retained the popular moniker of Lincoln Highway for decades, anyway. The bridge was removed in 2002.
This monument disappeared shortly after it was erected. Several years later, an anonymous tip lead authorities to look for the monument at the bottom of a nearby well, where it was found, along with several empty beer cans. It is assumed that the anonymous tipster was one of the perpetrators of the kidnapping. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in October 2007 |
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The monument face "This historical bridge was built on this site in 1927 by the Allen County Engineer's Office. When opened, it carried the Delphos-Upper Sandusky Road, U.S. 30, commonly referred to as the Lincoln Highway, over the Ottawa River and served as an important transportation link for area residents, as well as local and regional commerce.
"The structure was a spandrel filled reinforced concrete arch, consisting of three equal 70 foot clear spans supporting a 28 foot wide deck. The decorative railing, called a balustrade, consisted of concrete spindles and a cap. "At the time of removal in 2002, this structure had served the traveling public for 75 years. This monument is a tribute to the incredible workmanship of our forefathers and commemortates this magnificent structure that was a vital link on the Lincoln Highway, which was America's first transcontinental automobile route." Photo taken by J.R. Manning in October 2007 |
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It was replaced by this slab. The bridge is located just west of Gomer, Ohio. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in October 2007 |
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South side of the slab Photo taken by J.R. Manning in October 2007 |
Facts
- Overview
- Concrete arch bridge over Ottawa River on Lincoln Highway
- Location
- Allen County, Ohio
- Status
- Replaced 2002, Historical Monument Placed
- History
- Built 1926, Replaced 2002
- Design
- Closed-spandrel arch
- Dimensions
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Length of largest span: 70 ft.
Total length: 210 ft.
Deck width: 28.0 ft.
- Recognition
- Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +40.84833, -84.19500 (decimal degrees)
40°50'54" N, 84°11'42" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/736458/4525708 (zone/easting/northing)
- USGS topographic map
- Elida
- Inventory numbers
- OH 254096 (Ohio bridge number)
BH 35864 (Bridgehunter.com ID) - Inspection (as of 12/1999)
- Deck condition rating: Serious (3 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Serious (3 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Appraisal: Structurally deficient
Sufficiency rating: 12.9 (out of 100) - Average daily traffic (as of 2000)
- 1,026
