Admiral T. J. Lopez Bridge

The Admiral T. J. Lopez Bridge is a truss bridge crossing the Kanawha River at Chelyan, West Virginia, named for 4-star admiral Thomas J. Lopez.[1] The Warren truss bridge cost $25.9 million to build, and was opened to traffic on June 30, 1997. It serves as a connection between I-64/I-77 (West Virginia Turnpike), U.S. Route 60 (US 60), and West Virginia Route 61 (WV 61).

Admiral T. J. Lopez Bridge
Coordinates38°11′52″N 81°29′47″W
Carries4 lanes
CrossesKanawha River
LocaleChelyan, West Virginia
Other name(s)Chelyan Bridge
OwnerWest Virginia Department of Transportation
Characteristics
DesignTruss bridge
Total length2,200 feet (670 m)
Longest span594 feet (181 m)
History
DesignerHDR Engineering Inc., Pittsburgh
Construction startMay 1995
Construction end1997
Construction cost$25.9 million
OpenedJune 30, 1997
Location

History
The old Chelyan Bridge in 1993

The current bridge replaced an earlier crossing known simply as the Chelyan Bridge. Initially a toll crossing constructed for the Midland Trail-James River Bridge Company in 1928-29, this bridge consisted of 17 riveted steel truss and girder spans with a total length of 1,355 feet (413 m). The main span over the navigable channel was a 450-foot-long (140 m) cantilever truss with 200-foot (61 m) side spans. It was sold to the state of West Virginia in 1946 and, despite several rehabilitation projects over the years, continuing deterioration of the bridge required a load limit to be imposed. The bridge was documented by the West Virginia Division of Highways for the Historic American Engineering Record in 1993 prior to its replacement.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Merit Award: Long Span - ADMIRAL T. J. LOPEZ BRIDGE" (PDF). Modern Steel Construction. September 1998. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  2. Wilson, Michael K. (November 16, 1993). "Chelyan Bridge" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
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