Robert H. Mollohan-Jefferson Street Bridge

The Robert H. Mollohan–Jefferson Street Bridge, also known as the Million Dollar Bridge or High Level Bridge, is located in Fairmont, Marion County, West Virginia. It was dedicated on May 30, 1921. This bridge connects east and west Fairmont, and crosses the Monongahela River. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.[1]

Jefferson Street Bridge
Coordinates39°28′57″N 80°08′26″W
Carries CR 1973 (Jefferson Street)
CrossesMonongahela River
LocaleFairmont, West Virginia, U.S.
Official nameRobert H. Mollohan-Jefferson Street Bridge
Other name(s)High Level Bridge
Million Dollar Bridge
Maintained byWest Virginia Division of Highways
Characteristics
DesignConcrete Arch Bridge
MaterialConcrete
Total length1,320 ft (400 m) long
Width56 ft (17 m) wide;
Longest span250 ft (76 m)
History
ArchitectGeorge Carnegie Palmer and Henry Hornbostel
Opened1921
Location

History

in 1916, Manufactures Record published an article saying that Fairmont, West Virginia had issued a $400,000 bond to build two concrete bridges to replace the mid-19th century suspension bridge.[2] Because the actual cost of the bridges was significantly higher, this project was called the "million dollar bridge."[2]

Once plans were prepared, Manufactures Record published a drawing and statistics: 1,320 ft (400 m) long, 56 ft (17 m) wide; with three reinforced concrete arches that each have two ribs and a clear span of 250 ft (76 m).[2]

George Carnegie Palmer and Henry Hornbostel of the New York City architectural firm Palmer & Hornbostel were consultants to the Concrete Steel Engineering Company for the design of the bridge.[2] Palmer & Hornbostel gave "the bridge thirty-three concrete obelisks supporting bronze light fixtures, an open balustrade, and four balconies with flagpoles. Below, three large segmental arches with open-rib spandrels evince a happy marriage of engineering and architecture."[2] The bridge opened in 1921.[2]

After falling into poor repair over the years, it was preserved, repaired, and reopened in October 2000. The bridge is now a significant historic landmark in the city.[3][4] It is still the largest reinforced concrete arch bridge in West Virginia.[2]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Chambers Jr., S. Allen (2018-08-01). "High-Level Bridge (Million Dollar Bridge)". SAH ARCHIPEDIA. Society of Architectural Historians. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  3. Koon, Thomas and Oce Smith. "Marion County West Virginia: A Pictorial History. VA Downing Company, 1995
  4. Jeffrey A. Drobney (July 1991). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: High Level Bridge ("Million Dollar Bridge")" (PDF). State of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Historic Preservation. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
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