Friday, May 22, 2026

1826,2005 Original National Highway S-Curve and 1933,1982,2026 US-40 Bridges over Wheeling Creek at Blaine, OH

S-Curve: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges; Satellite)
US-40: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges; Satellite) Arches of Memory Bridge


I found these bridges while looking for the Lloydsville Bridge.

S-Curve is in the foreground, and the Arches of Memory Bridge is in the background.
2016 photo by Steve Conro via BridgeHutner_curve

2005 photo by Gregory S. Hamilton via BridgeHunter_curve

VisitBelmontCounty
"In Blaine, a 1918 brick paved section of National Road (now Pasco Road) can be seen/ a unique mile markers identifies the entrance to Pasco Drive. The Blaine Hill “S” Bridge, constructed in 1828, is the oldest documented standing bridge in Ohio. In 2001, the Ohio Legislature officially designated the Blaine Hill Bridge as Ohio’s Bicentennial Bridge. It was restored and rededicated in 2005."

bridgemeister



2006 photo by Jack Schmidt via BridgeHunter_US-40
I-70 was opened in 1954.

The bridge widens to three lanes to provide a truck lane for the uphill westbound traffic.
Street View, Nov 2021

jimgrey
"On the left is the stone-arch S bridge that carried the National Road over Wheeling Creek at Blaine, Ohio. On the right, its replacement being built: the Arches of Memory bridge, also known as the Blaine Viaduct. It opened in 1933."

During the 2005 rehab.
Federal Highway Administration

The bridge has been closed since mid-2024 to rebuild the superstructure. It is expected to open in Summer 2026. "The project will last about 12 months at an estimated cost of $13.52 million." Because of structural issues, they restricted the traffic in Jul 2024. (I assume the restriction was a weight limit.) But so many motorists violated the restriction that ODOT closed the bridge in Aug 2024. So this is an emergency bridge replacement.  [TimesLeaderOnline, paywall 3]

Frist, they had to get rid of the old stuff.
ODOT_09-26-2025
They removed the last beam on Sep 25, 2025.


ODOT_09-26-2025

Evidently, the arches were saved but the columns were replaced.
ODOT_12-4-2025

ODOT_02-17-2026
"Blaine Hill Bridge Project Update - final bridge beam placed on February 17, 2026"
"Since early December, the contractor has worked diligently through challenging winter conditions to install all 440 box beams, marking significant progress toward completion."

I wish they had a gallery of photos. I would like to see more about the construction. I found a beam being trucked to the worksite in a report to the public saying the transportation of beams will interrupt local traffic.
wtov9

Same Video

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