Putnam Street Bridge

Source document Quoted word for word from the written history filed with HAER OH-117. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Putnam Street (Marietta Bridge) Harmar Historic District Spanning the Muskingum River on Putnam Street, north of the confluence of the Muskingum River with the Ohio River Marietta Washington County Ohio Marietta OhioA/Vest Virginia (Modified & Neison-Merydith Company Washington County Engineer 204 Davis Avenue Marietta, Ohio Vehicular/Pedestrian Bridge. To be replaced by a new vehicular/pedestrian bridge. Projected removal date - Spring The original Putnam Street Bridge, built in was the first free bridge crossing the Muskingum River in Marietta, Ohio. That bridge was swept away in the flood. The present Putnam Street Swing bridge was built on the same stone masonry piers/abutments. Although the swing span is inoperable, it is one of four remaining swing bridges in Ohio.

The bridge is eligible for listing on the National Register and is identified as a contributing element to the Harmar National Register Historic District.

Source document Quoted word for word from the written history filed with HAER OH-117. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Howard R. Hoehn, OHIO INC. December Putnam Street Bridge ( Marietta Bridge) HAER No. OH- 117 (page 2) - HISTORY The City of Marietta is the site of the first inland settlement of the United States outside of the original thirteen colonies. As the first settlement in the Northwest Territory, the city is called the site of the westward settlement of the United States and parks have been established commemorating this aspect on both the east and west banks of the Muskingum River within the central business district. The Harmar District is located along the western bank and Marietta on the eastern bank. Since a bridge has connected these two downtown areas of Marietta.

The Putnam Street Bridge, also called the Marietta Bridge, was the first "free" bridge built crossing the Muskingum River in Marietta, Ohio. The present bridge replaced the original bridge which was swept away in the flood. The replacement structure was built on the piers and abutments of its predecessor. A Swing Span on the east bank, now welded shut, was incorporated to allow large river boat traffic to pass. At present, this bridge is one of only four (4) remaining Swing Bridges in Ohio. The Harmar Historic District, which predates the settlement of the City of Marietta, was entered onto the National Register of Historic Places in The Putnam Street Bridge has been identified as a contributing element to the Harmar National Register Historic District.

The Ohio Department of Transportation has identified the Putnam Street Bridge as a Selected Bridge, eligible for listing on the National Register. In I974,the Marietta Historic District was include on the National Register of Historic Places. Thus the Putnam Street Bridge, though not a National Register Property itself, connects two National Register Historic Districts. Because of the continuing deterioration, the bridge has undergone several repair programs in and again in Due to further deterioration, the low legal load limitations, restricted traffic volume capacity and the high cost of maintenance, the existing structure will be removed and replaced by a new structure maintaining the historic architectural integrity appropriate for this historic area.

The new bridge will not replicate the existing structure but has been designed to compliment the visual features of the Marietta and Harmar National Register Historic Districts. Design features and details have been coordinated with the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office. # Putnam Street Bridge (Marietta Bridge) HAER No. OH- 117 (page 3) li -THE BRIDGE Description The Putnam Street Bridge is 768-ft-long and 44 ft- 7in -wide and carries two 12-ft-wide traffic lanes and two 6-ft-wide sidewalks. Construction of the sidewalks and traffic lanes was of wooden planks. Two street car tracks were originally incorporated into the traffic lanes. The bridge consists of four truss spans.

A 229-ft-long swing span is flanked on the east by a 229-ft-long pin connected through truss span and a short retained earth span. On the west it is flanked by two 210-fMong pin connected through truss spans. The eastern most truss is a Parker, as are the two spans closest to the western bank. The middle span is similar to a Parker but has been modified to support the swing-span with a space above for the bridge tenders house. in a three-ton load limit was placed on the bridge to conform to State regulations. This remains in effect and restricts local commercial truck traffic and emergency vehicle traffic from using the bridge. The structure is supported by four stone masonry piers and stone masonry abutments.

These features were constructed for the structure preceding the existing bridge which was swept away in the flood of The original piers and abutments were incorporated into the current structure. The wooden sidewalks remain, however, the traffic lanes were replaced by a concrete deck. The Nelson-Merydith Company of Marietta built the structure in Role in Local Transportation The Putnam Street Bridge connects the two downtown areas of Marietta; the Harmar District and the Marietta Central Business District. The bridge serves as the principal historic link between these two districts for commerce, employment, entertainment and worship. Currently the bridge provides local arterial service. A local rail street car line originally crossed the bridge connecting the two business districts.

The tracks were removed when the wooden vehicular deck was replaced with a concrete deck in Originally State Route 7 was routed over the Putnam Street Bridge. When the Washington Street Bridge was opened State Route 7 was rerouted to the new structure. Putnam Street Bridge {Marietta Bridge) HAER No. OH - 117 {page 4) Significance of the Crossing Since a bridge between Putnam Street and Putnam Avenue has connected the two downtown areas of Marietta, the Harmar District and the Marietta Central Business District. Both of these districts are listed as National Register Historic Districts (See exhibits 3 and 4). The Putnam Street Bridge is a contributing element to the Harmar National Register Historic District.

The bridge is one of two vehicular_bridges over the Muskingum River in Marietta, Ohio and served as the principle arterial for cross river traffic until 1 953 when the Washington Street Bridge was opened. Traffic volume on the structure has continually increased and the projections indicate that a four- lane structure is required to serve the vehicular needs. Currently commercial and emergency vehicle traffic is restricted due to the existing three-ton load limit.

A new bridge is needed to replace the deteriorating bridge to maintain the link between eastern and western Marietta, to preserve the integrity of the Harmar and Marietta National Register Historic Districts, and to allow automobiles, commercial truck traffic and emergency vehicles to utilize the structure, and to provide for the existing and projected traffic volumes. Modifications Many repairs have been made over the years to the structure as a part of routine maintenance. The following modifications have altered the original appearance and design of the bridge: Timber wood vehicular deck was replaced with new concrete deck with open joint down the middle. Repair work done on all bridge sidewalks, railing supports, brackets and lattice. All of the handrail caps were replaced.

Steel Swing Span was welded shut. Legal Load Limit was reduced to pounds. The Locks and Lock Walls of Dam #1 and the bridge fenders protecting the swing span in its "open" position were removed. Putnam Street Bridge (Marietta Bridge} HAER No. OH- 117 (page 5) New sidewalk timbers were installed. Repairs were made to various truss members, trusses were raised, bearings were repaired and sheet piling and tremie concrete was placed around piers3 and 4. Deteriorating masonry stone pier caps and abutments were repaired with concrete. Bridge was cleaned and painted. Approaches were widened and resurfaced. Bridge was repainted and repairs were made to the lower superstructure near pier #4. The Bridge Tenders House was removed. Pier cap was replaced with concrete on pier #4.

Twenty-one l-Bars were reinforced with steel to replace section loss, due to rust, of the original l-Bars. Upper lateral braces and brackets were repaired. Hanging rubber belts were installed as height barriers on each end span of the bridge. Rigid structure steel restrictive devices replaced the hanging rubber belts to provide a more substantial device to deter over-sized vehicles. Minor repairs were made to ftoorbeams, upper lateral braces, machinery supports and rail diaphragms. Putnam Street Bridge {Marietta Bridge) HAER No. OH - 117 (page 6) III - BIBLIOGRAPHY A - REPORTS Federal Highway Administration/ Ohio Department of Transportation, Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Section (4) Evaluation for the Proposed Putnam Street Bridge Replacement . January Junk, Paul F.

Final Preliminary Alternatives Summary of the Location Study for a New Muskinaum River Crossing at Marietta. Ohio . April B - MODIFICATIONS Sushka, Ted W., Putnam Street Bridge Repairs , June C- INTERVIEWS Sushka, Ted W. , Washington County Engineer - April, Sushka, Ted W. , Washington County Engineer - May, Sushka, Ted W. , Washington County Engineer - June, D - DRAWINGS Original engineering drawings on file with the Washington County Engineer 204 Davis Avenue Marietta, Ohio Putnam Street Bridge ( Marietta Bridge} HAER No. OH- 117 (page 7) OHIO WASHINGTON COUNTY arkersburg Putnam Street Bridge ( Marietta Bridge ) HAER No. OH- 117 (page 8) 'ZU MARIETTA, OHIO Putnam Street Bridge ( Marietta Bridge ) HAER No. OH- 117 (page 9) Putnam Street Bridge ( Marietta Bridge J HAER No.

OH - 117 (page 10) Whitney House (WAS-316-17) 417 Fort Street B&O Railroad/HIsioric Harmar Bridge B&O Vfaut Tower Foundation (33 Historic Harmar Bridge Company Property Maple Strew Business Block (WAS-359, David Pumam House (WAS-318-17) JeffEnglc House/Hasty Shopper (WAS-3:i-l7> Hart-Huling HouscADfTeobergerA White (WAS-319-17) Putnam Street Bridge Rgfuse Dump not eligible for the Hardware \JS -A Site West Muskingum Park/KIwanis Part Magnetic Specialty Building