The design appears to be a fixed trunnion bascule bridge, and its 330' span was the worlds longest when completed in 1940. It is now considered the second longest span in the world. When it was rehabilitated in 1988, it was renamed from the Erie Avenue Bridge to the Charles Berry Bridge "in honor of Lorain native Charles J. Berry, a Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during a minor grenade battle on Iwo Jima." [Revolvy]
 |
| C Hanchey in July 2012, via Bridge Hunter, License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA) |
• Approximately 1,500 lifts are made per year
• The average lift for a sailboat is 4-5 minutes
• The average lift for a ship is 12-15 minutes
[Brochure]
• The average lift for a sailboat is 4-5 minutes
• The average lift for a ship is 12-15 minutes
[Brochure]
 |
| Lorain Port and Finance Authority posted Here's some "Fun Facts" about the bridges that cross over the Black River in Lorain! The Charles Berry Bridge, mile 0.6, is a double leaf bascule bridge that provides a horizontal clearance of 148-feet and a vertical clearance of 33-feet at center above LWD in the closed position and an unlimited clearance in the open position. Vehicle crossings at the Charles Berry Bridge have decreased by almost 45% since 1986, now averaging 2,161 vehicle crossings per day. The Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge, mile 1.2, is a vertical lift bridge that provides a horizontal clearance of 205-feet and a vertical clearance of 35-feet in the closed position above LWD and 123-feet in the open position above LWD. The Lofton Henderson Memorial Bridge, mile 2, is a fixed bridge that provides a horizontal clearance of 256-feet and a vertical clearance of 97-feet based on LWD. Low Water Datum - The LWD identifies a surface so low that the water level will seldom fall below it. Different lakes and rivers use different LWD surfaces. In short, it's the distance of clearance from the bottom of the bridge to the lowest average water level. |
 |
| Linda S. Seabold via her comment in Bridge Hunter, License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) |
 |
| Lorain Port and Finance Authority posted The vessel "Cuyahoga" arriving at Port Lorain. April 2021. Lorain Port and Finance Authority shared |
 |
| Lorain Port and Finance Authority posted The Charles Berry Bridge, mile 0.6, is a double leaf bascule bridge that provides a horizontal clearance of 148-feet and a vertical clearance of 33-feet at center above LWD in the closed position and an unlimited clearance in the open position. Vehicle crossings at the Charles Berry Bridge have decreased by almost 45% since 1986, now averaging 2,161 vehicle crossings per day. [I think the vehicles-per-day for a four lane bridge in a city is normally 5-digits instead of 4-digits. Do people go out of their way to use the Henderson Bridge to avoid being stopped by a drawbridge? This is another example of an ATBs (Articulated Tug Barge). They are becoming more prevalent on the Great Lakes.]] It was rehabbed in 1988, https://www.loraincountyohio.gov/167/Charles-Berry-Bridge |
 |
| Norbert Stager posted Ashtabula/Defiance [articulated tug under] Bascule Bridge Lorain, Ohio |
 |
| Postcard via BridgeHunter, License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike (CC BY-SA) |
 |
| Apr 12, 2022: Ohio Department of Transportation North Central Ohio Disctrict 3 posted The U.S. 6 Charles Berry Bascule Bridge is closed as crews assess damage and make the appropriate repairs. There is no estimated time as to when the bridge will reopen to traffic. Brian Bowman: Damage from what? It just got done being retrofitted and repaired after being down for 2 years. Unbelievable.Ohio Department of Transportation North Central Ohio District 3: Brian Bowman The locking mechanism on the north span lock was damaged and is not operable. Our Bridge Engineers and Project Engineer are assessing the damage to determine what the appropriate repairs will be. It is unclear at this time how it was damaged. Thankfully, we caught it in time so that the safety of motorists/pedestrians was not jeopardized. Paul D. Pelton Jr.: WHY DID AN ENGINEER TELL MY FATHER THAT THE BRIDGE'S TWO BUILDINGS ARE OFF CENTER, AND THE BRIDGE IS BINDING AND NOT MESHING????? Geoffrey Moreland shared Dale Pohto: Named for USMC Corporal CHARLES JOSEPH BERRY Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a member of a machine-gun crew, serving with the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, on 3 March 1945. Stationed in the front lines, Cpl. Berry manned his weapon with alert readiness as he maintained a constant vigil with other members of his gun crew during the hazardous night hours. When infiltrating Japanese soldiers launched a surprise attack shortly after midnight in an attempt to overrun his position, he engaged in a pitched hand-grenade duel, returning the dangerous weapons with prompt and deadly accuracy until an enemy grenade landed in the foxhole. Determined to save his comrades, he unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and immediately dived on the deadly missile, absorbing the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his own body and protecting the others from serious injury. Stouthearted and indomitable, Cpl. Berry fearlessly yielded his own life that his fellow marines might carry on the relentless battle against a ruthless enemy, and his superb valor and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country." He is buried in Lorain's Elmwood Cemetery. |
 |
ODOT U.S. 6 Charles Berry Bascule Bridge Update: After reviewing the temporary repairs made to the north span lock supports, the two eastbound lanes will be open to vehicular traffic until the permanent replacement parts arrive.  The bridge will be monitored until the permanent work is completed. Once the new parts arrive, it will take approximately 4-5 days to install the new parts and re-align the lock. Please note, the permanent repairs will require the bridge to re-close to vehicular traffic. A notice of the re-closure will be sent out at a later date.[Some comments are asking that the southern span carry traffic in both ways. ODOT claims that they cannot safely split the traffic on this particular bridge.] |
 |
Rona Proudfoot Flickr, License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike (CC BY-SA)The Spar Garnet enters Lorain this afternoon a little before 4 p.m.
|
 |
| Bill Kloss posted Sunny Sunday. Nothing like a bright blue sky. Laura L. VanEnkevort and her barge Joseph H. Thompson passing through the Berry Bascule bridge in Lorain, OH. |
A 2007 Flickr showing the bridge raised for a freighter with a superstructure on the bow.
Ohio DOT upgraded the electrical controls in 1998. ODOT also repaints the bridge about every 10 years. "With the additions that have been made, and proper maintenance to the bridge there is no reason why the bridge would not last well into the 21st Century." [LorainCounty]
 |
| Andrew Haenisch posted Saginaw entering the port of Lorain. |
 |
| Florence York Ellis posted I’m late for the bridge party, but here’s a shot of the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge in Lorain, Ohio….passing under, from the river. |
 |
| Florence York Ellis posted Waiting for a ship to pass under the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge on a summer day in Lorain, Ohio. Ziggy McVay: 2nd largest bascule bridge in the world |
 |
| Andrew Haenisch shared a Marcin Olexsy post Terry Thomas: What are the 5 white arrows for? Michael Meredith: Terry Thomas I think they are pointing out how many boats are in the photo. Scott Badenski: Looks like a Bradley boat re powering job. |
 |
| Douglas Butler posted Erie Avenue Charles Berry Bascule Bridge Lorain, OH. |
 |
| jamie bolyard, Jun 2018 |
Interlake Steamship Company posted three photos with the comment: "Our M/V Herbert C. Jackson making her way into Lorain before the storm this evening.
: Andy Doane"
[It looks to me as though the third photo should have been first.]
 |
| 1 |
 |
| 2 |
 |
| 3 |
I read that it is currently being rehabilitated and that a concrete deck is being added. Unfortunately, I can't find that tidbit of info again for reference. Normally bascule leaves that are four lanes wide with two sidewalks would have a metal mesh deck to reduce the air resistance. The following street view shows that it did have a metal deck.
I suspect the diagonal grid is an attempt to reduce the wiggling of tires as they roll across the deck. That wiggle can be especially unnerving for motorcycle riders. Bridge builders soon learned that the counterweights don't help much when the leaf is up and acting like a sale. The wind resistance of a solid deck could overwhelm the machinery. I guess in the 21st Century they have developed machinery that is strong enough to handle the wind pressure of a solid deck.
I did a quick check of I-290 in Chicago with street view (below). I see it now has a solid deck. It used to have a steel mesh deck. I remember driving my minivan over it, and I could feel the mesh wiggle the van from side to side. It was a subtle wiggle, but it was enough that my wife also felt it. If a mesh deck can impact a van, imagine what it can do to a motorcycle.
As one would expect, the predecessor bridge was a swing bridge.
 |
| Street View |
I did a quick check of I-290 in Chicago with street view (below). I see it now has a solid deck. It used to have a steel mesh deck. I remember driving my minivan over it, and I could feel the mesh wiggle the van from side to side. It was a subtle wiggle, but it was enough that my wife also felt it. If a mesh deck can impact a van, imagine what it can do to a motorcycle.
 |
| Street View |
As one would expect, the predecessor bridge was a swing bridge.
 |
| One of 23 photos posted by Jim Huber Circa 1900. Lorain Erie Swing bridge in background. |
 |
| Jim Bobel posted The M/V John D. Leitch slowly slips under the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge in Lorain, Ohio. When built in. 1939-40 it was the largest bascule bridge in the world. I think it’s still the third largest today. |
 |
| Anthony Acs posted Second largest bascule bridge in the world Erie Ave Lorain ohio Steven Smith: It is now named the Charles Berry Bridge in honor of the Medal of Honor recipient. I remember seeing the I’ll fated Edmund Fitzgerald passing under it on her way to the Lorain Shipyard. Leonard Cogar: Steven Smith My buddy and I used to talk to the sailors on the Fitz when it was unloading ore. [Some comments indicated that London Bridge is now the largest. This bridge is 330' (100m) long. The trunnion in Toledo is 204' (62.2m).] Barn Cat Farms shared Posted by Anthony Acs Andrew Jahnke: Hopefully the Ryerson will sail again one day. |
 |
| Lance Aerial Media posted Mark W. Barker making her way into the Port of Lorain, Ohio tonight. The Charles Berry Bascule bridge she is passing through, is the 2nd largest bascule bridge in the world with a 330’ span. Franklin Lee: Can the freighters fit under the Henderson bridge? Jill Maloney Edwards: Franklin Lee Yes, They can, they used to deliver to US Steel back in the day! Lance Aerial Media shared |
 |
| Lance Aerial Media posted Mark W. Barker made it into the Port of Lorain ahead of schedule tonight. Lance Aerial Media shared |
 |
| 1 if 6 photos posted by Steve Jensen Pictures of the Laurel L Vanenkevort tug/barge. She was departing from Lorain. Steve Jensen shared Steve Jensen shared |
 |
| City of Lorain, OH posted Bascule Bridge will close to vehicular traffic at 7:30 a.m., March 23, to 7 a.m., March 30 2020. [The lift bridge in the right background is the NS/NKP Bridge.] Douglas Butler shared City of Lorain, OH: Charles Berry Erie Avenue Bascule Bridge is located in Lorain, OH. |
Roger Durfee posted five photos with the comment: "Although there are only 3 bridges over the Black River, the main highway bridge is the second largest Bascule Bridge in the country. These photos will feature that bridge."
 |
| 1 "The Hog" passes under the Charles Berry Bridge in Lorain, Ohio. |
 |
| 2 The unique John D Leitch heads upriver, Lorain, Ohio. |
 |
| 3 The Saginaw heading upriver under the bascule bridge. |
 |
| 4 The Saginaw departing Lorain under the Charles Berry Bridge. |
 |
| 5 The Whitefish Bay gets an assist at Lorain. |
 |
| 0:22 timelapse video The Tug & Barge Defiance/Ashtabula arrived at Port Lorain a little bit ago after a long journey from Port Dolomite in Upper Michigan. It measures 705ft long with a 78ft beam. Check out this quick timelapse as they went by our 24/7 Live Black River Landing Cam! Watch the camera anytime at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZevIUr2cTk |
 |
| Lorain Port and Finance Authority posted 0:28 timelapse video The vessel JOHN J BOLAND departed from Port Lorain yesterday. Here's a quick timelapse video of their journey through the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge. 24/7 Black River Landing Cam |
No comments:
Post a Comment