Today in Wheeling History: October 19--The Aetnaville Bridge is temporarily closed for a five-day structural safety evaluation (2015).
The Aetnaville Bridge, completed in December 1891, is a historic steel truss bridge spanning the back channel of the Ohio River between Wheeling Island, West Virginia, and the former village of Aetnaville in Bridgeport, Ohio. Designed by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, the bridge features a pin-connected Pennsylvania through truss configuration and stretches 440 feet across four spans. Originally built to accommodate streetcars, pedestrians, and vehicular traffic, it served as a key connector for commerce and daily life between the two communities. Streetcar service operated on the Aetnaville Bridge until 1937, after which it continued to support vehicular traffic until safety concerns led to its closure in 1988. Pedestrian access remained for decades, but the bridge was temporarily closed from October 19 to 23, 2015, for a formal safety inspection. Following further structural evaluations, it was fully barricaded in 2016, ending all public access. Despite its closure, the bridge remains a cherished landmark, with local residents advocating for its preservation as part of a proposed pedestrian and bicycle trail. It is a contributing property to the Wheeling Island Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The Aetnaville Bridge stands as a testament to Wheeling’s industrial past and its enduring community spirit.
To learn more: Aetnaville Bridge on Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/y7a2z4xf), Ohio County Public Library history entry (https://tinyurl.com/uv76wpfa), Aetnaville Bridge on Abandoned Online (https://tinyurl.com/3ehu2k8z)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikipedia Commons
The Aetnaville Bridge, completed in December 1891, is a historic steel truss bridge spanning the back channel of the Ohio River between Wheeling Island, West Virginia, and the former village of Aetnaville in Bridgeport, Ohio. Designed by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, the bridge features a pin-connected Pennsylvania through truss configuration and stretches 440 feet across four spans. Originally built to accommodate streetcars, pedestrians, and vehicular traffic, it served as a key connector for commerce and daily life between the two communities. Streetcar service operated on the Aetnaville Bridge until 1937, after which it continued to support vehicular traffic until safety concerns led to its closure in 1988. Pedestrian access remained for decades, but the bridge was temporarily closed from October 19 to 23, 2015, for a formal safety inspection. Following further structural evaluations, it was fully barricaded in 2016, ending all public access. Despite its closure, the bridge remains a cherished landmark, with local residents advocating for its preservation as part of a proposed pedestrian and bicycle trail. It is a contributing property to the Wheeling Island Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The Aetnaville Bridge stands as a testament to Wheeling’s industrial past and its enduring community spirit.
To learn more: Aetnaville Bridge on Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/y7a2z4xf), Ohio County Public Library history entry (https://tinyurl.com/uv76wpfa), Aetnaville Bridge on Abandoned Online (https://tinyurl.com/3ehu2k8z)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikipedia Commons
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