George V. Voinovich Bridges

The George V. Voinovich Bridges are two bridges in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., that carry Interstate 90 (I-90, Innerbelt Freeway) over the Cuyahoga River. They are named for George Voinovich, former mayor of Cleveland, Governor of Ohio, and United States Senator.

George V. Voinovich Bridge westbound
Photograph of completed bridge
The eastbound bridge, shortly after completion, September 2016
Coordinates41°29′10″N 81°41′24″W / 41.4861°N 81.69°W / 41.4861; -81.69
Carries I-90 (Innerbelt Freeway)
Crosses US 422 / SR 8 / SR 10 / SR 14 / SR 43 / SR 87 (Ontario Street/Broadway Avenue)

RTA Rapid Transit Red Line
Cuyahoga River

Norfolk Southern Railway
LocaleCleveland, Ohio
OwnerODOT
Maintained byODOT
Characteristics
MaterialSteel, concrete
Total length4,347 feet (1,325 m)
Height136 feet (41 m)
History
DesignerHNTB Ohio
Engineering design byWalsh Construction
Construction startMarch 30, 2011
Construction cost$293 million
OpenedNovember 9, 2013
InauguratedNovember 8, 2013
ReplacesInnerbelt Bridge
Location
Map
References
[1][2][3][4]
George V. Voinovich Bridge eastbound
Coordinates41°29′N 81°41′W / 41.49°N 81.69°W / 41.49; -81.69
Carries I-90
CrossesNorfolk Southern Railway

Cuyahoga River
RTA Rapid Transit Red Line

US 422 / SR 8 / SR 10 / SR 14 / SR 43 / SR 87 (Ontario Street/Broadway Avenue)
LocaleCleveland, Ohio
OwnerODOT
Maintained byODOT
Characteristics
Total length3,918 feet (1,194 m)
Height136 feet (41 m)
History
DesignerURS Corporation
Engineering design byTrumbull Corporation, The Great Lakes Construction Company, & The Ruhlin Company (TGR)
Construction cost$273 million
OpenedSeptember 24, 2016
InauguratedSeptember 24, 2016
ReplacesInnerbelt Bridge
Location
Map
References
[4][5][6][7]

The bridges' 200-foot (61 m) piles are the largest ever manufactured in the United States.[8] Combined the bridges cost $566 million.[9]

Predecessor

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The bridges were conceived as part of the Innerbelt Freeway rebuild to replace the 1959 Innerbelt Bridge, and the schedule of the project to build them was accelerated due to the deteriorating condition of the Innerbelt Bridge.[10]

Westbound bridge

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The westbound bridge was built immediately to the north of the Innerbelt Bridge. Construction on this bridge began on March 30, 2011,[1] with a ceremonial groundbreaking following on May 2.[11][12] It opened to Ontario Street ramp traffic on November 9, 2013,[13] had opened to other ramp traffic and I-90 westbound mainline traffic by November 17,[14] and opened to eastbound traffic, which used the westbound bridge until the completion of the eastbound bridge, on November 23.[15] The bridge was dedicated to George Voinovich during the ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 8, 2013.[2]

Eastbound bridge

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The eastbound bridge was built in the former location of the Innerbelt Bridge.[4] Early in the project, the proposed date of completion varied widely.[16][17][18][19][20] Construction on the bridge had begun by November 3, 2014;[21] the bridge opened in limited capacity the evening of September 24, 2016[7] after a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier in the day,[6] opening in full on October 24.[22] This bridge was named for George Voinovich prior to the naming of the westbound bridge.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Breckenridge, Tom (March 30, 2011). "Inner Belt Bridge Construction Begins as Massive Supports are Hammered into Bedrock". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Grant, Alison (November 8, 2013). "Inner Belt Bridge Brings Crowd of Onlookers with Cameras, Babies in Strollers". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  3. ^ District 12 (January 10, 2011). "Cleveland City Planning Commission Approves Innerbelt Bridge Aesthetic Details" (Press release). Ohio Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 10, 2013.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b c "Frequently Asked Questions". Ohio Department of Transportation.
  5. ^ District 12 (September 13, 2013). "Apparent Winning Team for Historic Bridge Construction Revealed" (Press release). Ohio Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 10, 2013.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b Ewinger, James (September 24, 2016). "Voinovich family dedicates eastbound Innerbelt span". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Ohio Department of Transportation District 12 [@ODOT_Innerbelt] (September 24, 2016). "Those fireworks in the background are probably for the @Indians, however it could also be to let you know the EB bridge is open to traffic!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Grant, Alison (April 20, 2015). "See what's going on with the Inner Belt Bridge project during ODOT's public tours". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  9. ^ News 5, Web Staff (September 24, 2016). "Family of George V. Voinovich cuts ribbon to open bridge in his honor". WEWS. Cleveland. Retrieved June 15, 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Project Overview". Ohio Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013.
  11. ^ Freeman, Kevin (May 2, 2011). "New Innerbelt Bridge to Connect, Improve Communities". Cleveland: WJW-TV. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  12. ^ District 12 (May 2, 2011). "Innerbelt Bridge Ceremonial Groundbreaking Held Today" (Press release). Ohio Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 10, 2011.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Volante, Monica (November 9, 2013). "Innerbelt Bridge Open in Both Directions". Cleveland: WJW-TV. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  14. ^ Ohio Department of Transportation District 12 [@ODOT_Innerbelt] (November 17, 2013). "Attention Motorists: I-90 west is open and as of 8a this morning, westbound traffic is on the NEW #Innerbelt..." (Tweet). Retrieved July 24, 2015 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ District 12 (November 23, 2013). "Interstate 90 Now OPEN: All Traffic on NEW Innerbelt Bridge!" (Press release). Ohio Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 24, 2013.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Farkas, Karen (December 1, 2009). "Construction of new Inner Belt Bridge likely will cause traffic tie-ups for many years". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  17. ^ Breckenridge, Tom (January 17, 2012). "Cleveland's Business, Traffic Would Suffer if 2nd Inner Belt Bridge is Delayed a Decade, Officials Say". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  18. ^ Breckenridge, Tom (January 29, 2012). "Funding for Second Inner Belt Bridge Could Take a Back Seat to Statewide Projects". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  19. ^ Amigo, Elisa (June 6, 2012). "Innerbelt Bridge Project Moved up to 2016". Cleveland: WJW-TV. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  20. ^ Breckenridge, Tom (June 6, 2012). "Cleveland's 2nd Inner Belt Bridge Could Be Built 7 Years Earlier than Expected". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  21. ^ Fong, Marvin (November 3, 2014). "Second Inner Belt bridge work continues in Cleveland (slideshow)". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  22. ^ Christ, Ginger (October 24, 2016). "Inner Belt Bridge is completely open today". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  23. ^ Ohio Revised Code 5533.359
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