Ravenswood Bridge

{{Short description|American bridge crossing the Ohio River}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox bridge |image=Ravenswood Bridge-edit.jpg |image_size=300px |caption=View of the bridge from Ravenswood |carries={{Jct|country=USA|US|33}} |crosses=Ohio River |official_name=William S. Ritchie, Jr. Bridge<ref name="WV Letting"/> |open=1981 |design= Cantilever bridge |length={{convert|2710|ft|m}} |mainspan={{convert|900|ft|m}} |maint= West Virginia Department of Transportation<ref name="WV Letting"/> }} {{Infobox road small|header_type=former |state=OH |type=SR |route=824 |location=Meigs County |formed = 1981 |deleted = 2003 }} {{Infobox road small|header_type=former |state=WV |type=SR |route=338 |location=Ravenswood |formed = 1981 |deleted = 2003 }}

The '''William S. Ritchie Jr. Bridge''',<ref name="WV Letting"/> more commonly known as the '''Ravenswood Bridge''', is a two-lane cantilever bridge in the United States, connecting Ravenswood, West Virginia and rural Meigs County, Ohio, across the Ohio River. It has a total length of {{convert|2710|ft|m|abbr=on}} with a main span of {{convert|900|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The bridge was completed in 1981.<ref>{{cite book|title=The World Almanac and Book of Facts |year=2002 | publisher=World Almanac Education Group | isbn= 0-88687-872-1 | page=609}}</ref>

The bridge replaced a ferry that had crossed the river between Ravenswood at Water Street and rural Lebanon Township since at least 1908.<ref name=1908Topo>{{Cite map |publisher=United States Geological Survey |title=Ravenswood Quadrangle–West Virginia/Ohio |year=1908 |scale=1:62,500 |series=15 Minute Series |type= Topographic map |accessdate=November 12, 2016 |url=https://ims.er.usgs.gov/gda_services/download?item_id=5415812}}</ref><ref name=ODOT1925_map>{{cite map |title=Map of Ohio Showing State Routes |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/TransSysDev/Innovation/prod_services/Documents/StateMaps/otm1925a.sid |format=MrSID |publisher=Ohio Division of Highways |year=1925 |cartography=G.F. Schlesinger, Director |accessdate=August 18, 2013}}</ref> When the bridge opened in 1981, on the Ohio side of the river, the bridge and its approach route carried the {{convert|0.57|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} '''Ohio State Route 824''' ('''SR 824''').<ref name=2001MeigsTraffic>{{cite web |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/TechServ/traffic/Traffic_Survey_Reports/2001_Reports/Meg01.pdf |title=2001 MEIGS CO 2 AVERAGE 24-HR TRAFFIC VOLUME |publisher=ODOT |year=2001 |page=3 |accessdate=January 20, 2014}}</ref> The crossing originally led to a winding two-lane SR 338. On the West Virginia side, the bridge carried '''West Virginia Route 338'''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Design Guide For Signing|url=http://www.transportation.wv.gov/highways/engineering/Documents/1994%20Design%20Guide%20for%20Signing.pdf|date=April 1994|page=56|publisher=West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230035114/http://www.transportation.wv.gov/highways/engineering/Documents/1994%20Design%20Guide%20for%20Signing.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="WV Letting">{{cite web|title=Notice to Contractors - November 30, 1999 Letting|url=http://www.transportation.wv.gov/highways/contractadmin/Lettings/1999/991130/991130e.htm|publisher=West Virginia Department of Transportation|accessdate=August 13, 2017}}</ref> In 2003, the SR 824 and WV 338 designations were removed when the US 33 relocation in Meigs County was completed and the US 33 designation was moved onto the bridge.<ref name=ODOT2003_map>{{cite map |title=2003-2004 Official Ohio Transportation Map |url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/TransSysDev/Innovation/prod_services/Documents/StateMaps/otm2003a.sid |format=MrSID |publisher=Ohio Department of Transportation |year=2003 |accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref>

Additionally, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is currently holding a feasibility study on the bridge, where they plan to replace the bridge with a four lane one. According to the ODOT website, this bridge is included in ODOT's series of projects on the U.S. 33 corridor between Columbus and the Ohio River to improve safety and efficiency.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/120478 | title = Ravenswood Bridge Feasibility Study | publisher = Ohio Department of Transportation | access-date = March 30, 2026 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20260330191121/https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/120478 | archive-date = March 30, 2026 }}</ref> There are three possible alternatives, two of which involve removing the existing bridge,[https://www.dot.state.oh.us/projects/files/Ravenswood%20Bridge%20-%20Alternative%20B.pdf][https://www.dot.state.oh.us/projects/files/Ravenswood%20Bridge%20-%20Alternative%20C.pdf] and building a new four lane one beside it, and one involves building a new two lane bridge, and leaving the existing bridge.[https://www.dot.state.oh.us/projects/files/Ravenswood%20Bridge%20-%20Alternative%20A.pdf] The project files can be found [https://www.dot.state.oh.us/projects/files/Forms/pid.aspx?&FilterField1=PID&FilterValue1=120478 here].

{{start srbox}} {{oh browse|previous_type=SR|previous_route=823|route=OH|next_type=SR|next_route=833}} {{wv browse|previous_type=WV|previous_route=331|route=WV|next_type=US|next_route=340}} {{s-end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20111006154853/http://bridgestunnels.com/bridges/ohio-river/ravenswood-bridge-us-33/ Ravenswood Bridge] at Bridges & Tunnels

thumb|left|Aerial view of the bridge and surroundings

{{Crossings navbox |structure = Crossings |place = Ohio River |bridge = Ravenswood Bridge |bridge signs = 20px |upstream = Belleville Locks and Dam |upstream signs = |downstream = Racine Locks and Dam |downstream signs = }}

Category:1981 establishments in West Virginia Category:Bridges completed in 1981 Category:Bridges in Jackson County, West Virginia Category:Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System Category:Bridges over the Ohio River Category:Buildings and structures in Meigs County, Ohio Category:Cantilever bridges in the United States Category:Interstate vehicle bridges in the United States Category:Road bridges in Ohio Category:Road bridges in West Virginia Category:Transportation in Meigs County, Ohio Category:U.S. Route 33