Seven Hills Bridge

A BIG win for Licking County is saving this rare beauty!

Tom Barrett at ODOT supplied the attached photos showing that this bridge has been successfully relocated to Camp Falling Rock Boy Scout Camp. I do not have the exact coordinates of the new location. It might be in the vicinity of 40.179869, -82.301123

https://goo.gl/maps/fKvsYJf6nYG2

The contractor incorrectly guessed the weight of this truss (it is far heavier in design than most pony trusses). The first attempt to pick it was not successful, and the contractor had to bring in additional counterweights for the crane and extend the crane's "bat wings." It is fortunate these options were available on the crane used, otherwise the costs to mobilize a different crane would have been enormous. A good lesson on why hiring experienced contractors is essential for this type of job.

Good to hear!

I learned today that the bridge has been removed. It will be restored & moved (or possibly moved & restored) to the Boy Scout Camp in Licking county. They have already preserved another rare metal bridge as well as a covered bridge at that camp.

Tony,

Have not visited the bridge personally, but Vern Mesler was contacted about it some time ago. Apparently there was some interest in relocation. I am also including a Historic Bridge Inventory photo showing the unusual floor beams.

The inner panels feature diagonals with some extremely unusual lacing that I haven't seen on any other spans. It's kind of like ribbon lacing in a sense but is doubled to give an X appearance. Very unique bridge that worries me a little because it's in Ohio, hope they know what they have here!

Thanks for the photos Janis! What unique construction! And I can't even see the truss floor beams Nathan mentined... What I do is is:

* truss webs that are equally sloped inboard and outboard rather than the typical vertical inboard with buttress on the outboard side

* some lacing that is secured in between eyebars or channels with long pins that appear to also function as struts.

* Maybe the joint pins have plain nuts rather than lomas nuts.

Sure wish I could see more. Guess I need to plan an Ohio trip.

Also taken 6/30/07, is this neat tunnel under the railroad track. It's a little further west than the Seven Hills bridge, on Hickman Rd/C210. N of Marne Rd/C585.

I happened upon this bridge 6/30/07, when I took these photos. It's high over a gorge with a railroad track & trail.

The photo on Oldohiobridges.com does not show this but this is a nationally significant c. 1870s railroad pony truss with unique pin-connected truss floorbeams!