Portage Trail Bridge
Portage Trail over OH-8, CSX, and Cuyahoga River
NBI Information
Location
State: Ohio
County: Summit County
Feature Carried: Portage Trail
Feature Crossed: OH-8, CSX, and Cuyahoga River
Latitude, Longitude: 41.1331,-81.4808
Toll: On free road
Maintenance Responsibility: State Highway Agency
Structure Open, Posted, or Closed to Traffic: Open, no restriction
History
Year Built: 1970
Historical Significance: Bridge is not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Year Reconstructed: 1992
Picture Date: February 17, 2024
Geometry
Lanes on Structure: 4
Lanes under Structure: 9
Skew: 15 degrees
Number of Main Spans: 9
Main Structure Type: Stringer/Multi-beam or Girder
Main Structure Material: Steel Continuous
Number of Approach Spans: 0
Approach Structure Type: None
Approach Structure Material: None
Condition
Inspection Date: November 2022
Deck Condition: Good
Superstructure Condition: Good
Substructure Condition: Good
Channel Condition: Very Good
Culvert: Not Applicable
NBI Year: 2023
Bridge Information
The first Portage Trail bridge was built in 1836 and was a wooden bridge. It was built as part of the linseed oil mill that was built on the east bank of the river.
In November of 1840, the bridge was reported to be unsafe for teams of horses to cross, and the bridge was closed. A new wooden covered bridge was opened in 1841.
A third bridge was built sometime before 1867, and this bridge was a masonry arch bridge. By 1969, the bridge was in dismal shape, and it needed to be replaced.
In 1970, a new bridge was constructed. This bridge is much longer than it’s predecessors, and stretches over 600 feet from Front Street to Newberry Street. This four lane bridge was part of the extension of the Moulton Freeway.
References
Brief History of the Portage Trail Bridges: https://cuyahogafallshistory.com/2015/03/the-new-portage-trail-bridge/