Shawneetown Bridge

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox Bridge |bridge_name = Shawneetown Bridge |image = Old Old Shawneetown, IL Bridge.jpg |image_size=300px |caption = |official_name =Earle C. Clements Bridge |carries = {{jct|state=IL|IL|13|KY|56}} |crosses = [[Ohio River]] |locale = [[Old Shawneetown, Illinois]] and [[Union County, Kentucky]] |maint = [[Kentucky Transportation Cabinet]] |id = |designer = |design = [[Cantilever bridge|Cantilevered truss bridge]] |material = |spans = |pierswater = |mainspan = {{convert|825.1|ft|m}} |length = {{convert|3200.2|ft|m}} |width = {{convert|23.9|ft|m}} |height = |load = |clearance = {{convert|19.0|ft|m}} |below = |traffic = 2,800 |begin = |complete = |open = 1955 |closed = |toll = |map_cue = |map_image = |map_text = |map_width = |coordinates = {{coord|37|41|28|N|88|07|53|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |lat = |long = }}

The '''Earle C. Clements Bridge''', commonly known as the '''Shawneetown Bridge''', is a [[Cantilever bridge|cantilever truss bridge]] carrying [[Kentucky Route 56]] and [[Illinois Route 13]] across the [[Ohio River]]. [[Earle Clements|Clements]] was governor of Kentucky in 1947–50 and U.S. senator in 1950–56. The bridge connects [[Old Shawneetown, Illinois]], to rural [[Union County, Kentucky]], where Clements was born, raised and held local office. Opened in 1955, it is the only highway bridge over the Ohio between [[Paducah, Kentucky]], and [[Evansville, Indiana]]. Tolls were removed from the bridge June 30, 1978.<ref>Bill Powell, Louisville Courier-Journal, July 1, 1978</ref>

The Shawneetown Bridge was featured in a scene in the film ''[[U.S. Marshals (film)|U.S. Marshals]]''. The film's crash scene was filmed several miles downstream in [[Pope County, Illinois]].

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://bridgehunter.com/il/gallatin/shawneetown/ Historic Bridges of the U.S. - Shawneetown Bridge]

{{Crossings navbox |structure = Bridges |place = [[Ohio River]] |bridge = Shawneetown Bridge |bridge signs = [[File:Elongated circle 56.svg|20px]][[File:Illinois 13.svg|20px]] |downstream = [[Brookport Bridge]] |downstream signs = [[Image:US 45.svg|20px]] |upstream = [[Henderson Bridge (Ohio River)]] |upstream signs = ''[[CSX Transportation]]'' }} {{Authority control}}

[[Category:Road bridges in Illinois]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Union County, Kentucky]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Gallatin County, Illinois]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 1955]] [[Category:Bridges over the Ohio River]] [[Category:Road bridges in Kentucky]] [[Category:1955 establishments in Illinois]] [[Category:1955 establishments in Kentucky]] [[Category:Cantilever bridges in the United States]] [[Category:Truss bridges in the United States]]