The Carl D. Perkins Bridge is a

cantilever bridge A cantilever bridge is a bridge built using structures that project horizontally into space, supported on only one end (called cantilevers). For small footbridges, the cantilevers may be simple beams; however, large cantilever bridges designed ...

that spans the Ohio River between

Washington Township, Scioto County, Ohio Washington Township is one of the sixteen townships of Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The 2010 census counted 5,555 people in the township. Geography Located in the southern part of the county along the Ohio River, it borders the following ...

and South Portsmouth,

Greenup County, Kentucky Greenup County is a county located along the Ohio River in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,962. The county was founded in 1803 and named in honor of Christopher Greenup. Its co ...

. The bridge carries the two lanes of State Route 852 and Truck Route U.S. Highway 23. The bridge connects to

Kentucky Route 8 Kentucky Route 8 is a east–west state highway divided into two distinct segments across northern Kentucky. The western terminus of the route is at KY 237 near Francisville. The eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 23 in South Portsmouth. ...

History

In July 1978, inspections of the original U.S. Grant Bridge found serious deterioration in its suspension cables. The bridge was closed to traffic and was rehabilitated over an 18-month period. With future traffic projected to increase compounded with a decline in

level of service Level of service may refer to: * Levels of service in asset management * Level of service (transportation) in transportation and traffic * Something agreed on in a Service-level agreement A service-level agreement (SLA) is a commitment between a ...

on the original U.S. Grant Bridge, the Kentucky Department of Transportation (KYDOT) and the

Ohio Department of Transportation The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT; ) is the administrative department of the Ohio state government responsible for developing and maintaining all state and U.S. roadways outside of municipalities and all Interstates except the Ohio T ...

(ODOT) agreed to begin planning for a new bridge. The 1978 Surface Transportation Assistance Act authorized the construction of a new bridge across the Ohio River in Portsmouth. In the environmental impact statement, it was decided the new bridge would be located downstream from the U.S. Grant Bridge. The bridge opened on January 28, 1988. It is named after the late Carl D. Perkins, Congressman from the 7th District of Kentucky. During the demolition of the original U.S. Grant Bridge and the construction of its replacement upstream, it was the only highway bridge connecting

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most dens ...

. The Perkins Bridge also served as a detour for U.S. Highway 23 during this time period. Carl Perkins Bridge aerial 2019

References

External links

Carl Perkins Bridge
at Bridges & Tunnels Bridges completed in 1988 Bridges over the Ohio River Bridges in Greenup County, Kentucky Transportation in Scioto County, Ohio Buildings and structures in Scioto County, Ohio Road bridges in Kentucky Road bridges in Ohio U.S. Route 23 Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System Cantilever bridges in the United States {{Ohio-bridge-struct-stub

History

See also

References

External links