OH: Blaine Hill Bridges + Barnesville B&O Tunnel

[seicer]

Blaine Hill Bridges

While traveling from Ohio eastward into Maryland, I opted to travel some of the National Road and marvel in the roaming countryside. Dotted with family farms nestled into the hillsides, driving the National Road at Barnesville and then east from St. Clairsville was a treat, compared to the under construction Interstate 70.

Coming down Blaine Hill along the National Road, which is about one mile east of St. Clairsville, was a throwback to the past. Sharp curves and steep grades concluded with an open-spandrel arch bridge over Wheeling Creek. The historic Blaine Hill Viaduct, constructed from 1932 to 1933, was designed by David Overman — who designed many of Ohio's most distinctive crossings. The new bridge featured a main span length of 133 feet with a total length of 754 feet.

The viaduct was rehabilitated in 1982 and again in 2011.

1


2


Below the Blaine Hill Viaduct is Ohio's oldest sandstone bridge — the Blaine Hill "S"  Bridge. Built in 1826 as part of the National Road, the "S"  bridge consisted of three arch sandstone spans with a total length of 345 feet, the longest bridge on the road in the state. The bridge was rebuilt in 1915 and replaced in 1933 when the viaduct above it opened.

In 1994, the historic bridge was closed to all traffic and was threatened with demolition by narrow minded individuals who thought the bridge was more of a liability and an eyesore and than an engineering marvel. The crossing was granted a second life  when the Blaine Bridge Community Preservation Project was founded in 1999. Just one year later, work began on the reconstruction of the "S"  bridge, beginning with the rebuilding of the western end of the span which was collapsing.

In 2003, the Blaine Hill "S"  Bridge was designated as Ohio's Official Bicentennial Bridge to commemorate the state's 200 years of statehood. Today, the Blaine Hill "S"  Bridge is the oldest crossing remaining on the National Road.

3


As a bonus, here are two photos of the Barnesville, Ohio Baltimore & Ohio Railroad tunnel (formerly that of the Central Ohio Railroad).

4 Completed in 1854 and extending for 423 feet, the railroad was abandoned in 1983. Portions of the railroad is now a rail to trail.


Enjoy!

Relevant pages:
a. Blaine Hill "S" Bridge: http://bridgestunnels.com/bridges/ohio/blaine-hill-s-bridge-formerly-us-40/
b. Blaine Hill Viaduct: http://bridgestunnels.com/bridges/ohio/blaine-hill-s-bridge-formerly-us-40/
c. Central Ohio Railroad: http://www.abandonedonline.net/railroads/central-ohio-railway/

Blog entries:
d. Blaine Hill Bridges: http://bridgestunnels.com/2011/08/30/blaine-hill-bridges/
e. A Trip to the Mill: http://www.abandonedonline.net/2011/08/30/a-travel-to-the-mill/

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

GLR & MTR poster Brian Powell was involved in the Blaine Hill "S" bridge restoration.