Name: Wheeling Suspension Bridge (view items)
Industry type: Transportation
Industry: Highway
Country: United States
State/County/Province: West Virginia
City: Wheeling
Start year: 1849
End year: 0
Company: Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Co.
Notes: The Wheeling Suspension Bridge was constructed to carry the National Road across the main channel of the Ohio River at Wheeling, WV. The bridge was designed by Charles Ellet, Jr. whose design was chosen over that of John A. Roebling. The bridge suffered a major failure similar to the Tacoma Narrows disaster during a wind storm in 1854. The deck was reconstructed in 1860 and then strengthened by Washington Roebling in 1871. It is the oldest vehicular suspension bridge remaining in use in the United States.
The bridge is both a National Landmark and National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
http://wheeling.weirton.lib.wv.us/history/landmark/bridges/SUSP/bridge10.htm