1935 Lorain Viaduct: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges; Satellite)
1925 Hilliard Boulevard: (Archived Bridge Hunter; no Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; Satellite)
1910 Detroit Avenue: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges; Satellite)
1933,1989,2027 Brookpark Viaduct
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| Street View, May 2026 |
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| HistoricBridges_1933 "Historical photo of bridge, showing original railing." |
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| HistoricBridges_1933 The 1,919' (585m) long bridge has a main span of 192' (58.5m). |
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| Photo by Erie Shores Drone via BridgeHunter_1933 |
Brian Jules posted five photos with the comment: "1933 Brook Park viaduct bridge over the Rocky River valley. Emergency shut down of the bridge this [2026] summer for concrete repairs has led to increased traffic through the parkway."
Dennis DeBruler: What town and state?
Brian Jules: Dennis DeBruler Cleveland, Ohio
Dennis DeBruler: Thanks. I found it: https://maps.app.goo.gl/C7isbiNhX47xngJN7. And I learned where NASA has a facility in Ohio (Glenn Research Center).
[Google Maps indicates the bridge will be closed until Sep 2027.]
Dana Abfall: Dennis DeBruler there’s another in Perkins twp. About an hour away from the one off brook park rd. Used to be called plum brook station, nasa facility now. Originally a test nuclear reactor.
[Plum Brook Station is now labeled FBI. But a little to the Southwest is the NASA Hypersonic Tunnel Facility.)
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| Jeff Sigsworth commented on Brian's post Brian Jules: Jeff Sigsworth old Detroit rd crossing Jeff Sigsworth: Brian Jules Oh, OK... a different bridge, then? Brian Jules: Jeff Sigsworth yes that one was demolished in 1980, Hillard bridge [see further below] is supposedly next |
1935,1990 Lorain Viaduct
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| 2012 photo by C Hanchey via BridgeHunter_1935 |
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| HistoricBridges_1935 This 1,230' (375m) long bridge has a main span of 256' (78m). "This bridge is a long and impressive multi-span steel deck arch bridge. An uncommon bridge type, steel deck arch bridges are typically utilized in between steep canyons, and so are in many cases single span, making this multi-span example over a broad river valley even more unusual. The bridge was also technologically noteworthy when built as it used welds in areas where rivets had traditionally been used. Rivets are still in many places on this bridge, but the use of welds in some areas was groundbreaking at the time. The bridge was designed with a nod to Art Deco style architecture. Some of this has been altered when the deck was widened, but the design of the railing and pillars remain to display this architectural influence." |
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| HistoricBridges_1935 "Historical photo showing previous bridge at this location." |
1925,1983 Hilliard Boulevard Bridge
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| Street View, May 2026 The bridge in the background is I-90. |
The 860' (262m) long bridge has a main span of 220' (67m). [ArchivedBridgeHunter_1925]
1910-1980 Detroit Avenue Bridge
US-20 still uses this bridge. US-6 now uses the Clifton Boulevard Bridge; but, since this route is labeled Alt US-6, this was probably the original route for US-6.
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| Postcard via BridgeHunter_1910 |
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| HAER OHIO,18-RORI,1--15 15. Photocopy of a photograph (original in the Office of the Cuyahoga County Engineer)--1963 AERIAL VIEW OF BRIDGE AND ENVIRONS, SHOWING RAILROAD TRESTLE AND CLIFTON-WESTLAKE BRIDGES IN BACKGROUND - Rocky River Bridge, Spanning Beaver Dam River, Rocky River, Cuyahoga County, OH |
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| HAER OHIO,18-RORI,1--13 13. Photocopy of a photograph (original negative in the Cleveland Picture Collection, Cleveland Public Library)--1909 ROCKY RIVER BRIDGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, VIEW LOOKING SOUTH SHOWING FORMER HIGH-LEVEL BRIDGE IN BACKGROUND |
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| HAER OHIO,18-RORI,1--14 14. Photocopy of a photograph (original negative in the archives of the Cleveland Plain Dealer)--1930 VIEW OF ROCKY RIVER BRIDGE LOOKING WEST, WITH WESTLAKE HOTEL IN BACKGROUND |
Today, the replacement bridge is yet another steel-girder bridge, but the approach arches, in the left background, have been preserved because they are the foundation for a new building.
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| Street View, Aug 2017 |
Another view of the approach arches.
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| CrainsCleveland |
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| HistoricBridges_1910 This bridge was 708' (215.8m) long with a main span of 280' (85.3m). The main span "was the longest unreinforced concrete arch span when constructed." |
According to HAER_data, it was still the longest unreinforced concrete arch in America when it was torn down.
All of the bridges
I got this topo map to confirm that Detroit Avenue was the original route for US-6. It was. But when I noticed how the contour lines emphasized the valley that the bridges crossed, I saved this map. Back then, Detroit and Lorain were the only bank-to-bank crossings of the Rocky River.
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| 1904/48 Berea Quad @ 62,500 |
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