The National Road - Ohio - Zanesville Y Bridge

Zanesville, Ohio is home to one of the more unique bridges in the United States. Situated at the confluence of the Licking and Muskingum Rivers, the 'Y' bridge consists of three 'legs' that meet over the rivers to form a Y. As a result, it is possible to cross the bridge while beginning and ending on the same side of the river as you started from. For over 200 years, five different versions of this unique bridge has crossed the two rivers in Zanesville.

(Mike Austing)

The first 'Y' Bridge was built in 1814 - a wooden trestle style bridge - and lasted only four years. In 1819, a new second bridge would be opened and would stand until it was condemned as unsafe 12 years later. The third Y bridge consisted of three covered bridges and stood until 1900.

For nearly a century - US 40 traffic makes either a left (westbound) or right (eastbound) hand turn at the center of the bridge. (Doug Kerr)

In 1902, the fourth version of the famous landmark was constructed and carried traffic until 1979. It was this structure that led Amelia Earhart to say that Zanesville was, "the most recognizable city in the country." The Main Street leg of structure had a lift span over the Muskingum River. The above-grade superstructure of the lift was removed in 1973. In 1979, the entire bridge structure was deemed unsafe and closed to vehicular traffic. Construction on the fifth and current span began in 1983 with the new bridge opening to traffic in the fall of 1984.

(Mike Austing)

The best vantage spot to see the 'Y' Bridge is from the Putnam Hill Park Overlook which sits just south of the bridge.

Site Navigation:

Sources & Links:

Mike Austing
Doug Kerr
Y-Bridge ---Zanesville-Muskingum County Visitors Bureau
Y-Bridge of Muskingum County

Comments

The case to move Interstate 73 in Southern Ohio onto US 33

Every decade or so, Ohio pushes to revisit the proposed Interstate 73 that would connect Michigan to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It's been happening since Congress legislated the route in 1991. Within Ohio, Interstate 73 generally follows the US 23 corridor from Portsmouth through Columbus to Toledo, and into Michigan. Since High Priority Corridor Five was created , Ohio has really done nothing to move forward with Interstate 73. Sure, there have been feasibility studies here and there. But actual dollars and construction just haven't occurred. The US 33 Nelsonville Bypass appears to have been built to Interstate standards. However, Ohio has been slowly upgrading US 33 to a full freeway through Southeastern Ohio. Bypasses of Lancaster and Nelsonville opened in 2004 and 2013, respectively. Other sections of two-lane road are being twinned, some to freeway or, at a minimum, to expressway standards. Currently, a $274 million widening project in...

Local Sign Find - The last remnant of Business Interstate 95 between Kenly and Rocky Mount , NC

As you head north on Interstate 95 at Exit 107 for Kenly and US 301, you'll notice something odd about the overhead sign for the exit. Peeling off the sign for all that can see is the word 'NORTH' off-center from the US 301. This old sign (probably close to original from when this section of I-95 opened - more on that in a little bit) gives a hint to a short-lived Business Interstate Route that ran from here to Rocky Mount. The last hint of the Kenly-Wilson-Rocky Mount Business I-95 (Shaun White - August 2020) Interstate 95 in North Carolina has a unique history. But one of the overlooked and forgotten pieces of Interstate 95 in North Carolina is the 38 mile section between Kenly and Rocky Mount. When opened to traffic in late 1978, it was the next to last piece of Interstate 95 in North Carolina to open replacing a four lane US 301 from Battleboro through Rocky Mount and Wilson to eventually tying back into the Interstate in Kenly. Though it was not delayed in l...

Nostalgia fast food with style - Returning to Rax

Nostalgia. It sells. It evokes, and more accurately, warps memories of days gone by. Things were better, simpler, and we eat it up. Nostalgia can make you drive three hours and over a hundred miles out of your way just to reconnect with a dying fast-food restaurant you last enjoyed in the early to mid-90s. That person was me - that restaurant was Rax. I could go on about Rax's history, but in short, Rax was briefly a very popular roast beef fast-food chain. Growing up in the 80s and early 90s in Western PA, Rax was the good fast-food spot. The milkshakes. (Personally, the chocolate chip milkshake was heaven.) Uncle Alligator Kids Meal with the chocolate chip cookie. Take that McDonald's Happy Meal! The fancy salad and hot foods bar. Going to Rax was special. Like so many similar restaurants, various investments, management decisions, etc., led Rax to almost disappear overnight. By the time I graduated college in late 1999, abou...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog