Wakeman Bridge

Wakeman Bridge. . The bridge carrying U.S. Route 20 over the Vermilion River was constructed in 1933. The bridge is considered eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places as an example of the Ohio Department of Highways Bureau of Bridges aesthetically-detailed, open spandrel, concrete arch structures., The bridge was designed by William E. Burroughs of the bureau and was constructed by the Hecker-Moon Company of Cleveland at a cost of $57,742.55. During the Great Depression, it was the Department of Highways practice to erect bridges that were aesthetically pleasing and labor-intensive. Structures like the Wakeman Bridge provided employment for skilled workers such as carpenters who were needed to build the falsework, the wood structure into which the concrete was poured., The twin ribbed arch of this open spandrel bridge was 154 feet in length. The bridge reflects the major influence of the Department of Highways' influence on the state's concrete bridge designs. The original decorative railings, sidewalks, and deck were replaced in the 1980s. The classically detailed columns and sub-deck arcading still contribute to the bridge's ability to express the unique circumstances that dominated bridge building during the 1930s., At the beginning of the 20th century, advances in steel-reinforced concrete allowed for the development of bridges with "open spandrels", creating a graceful, visual appeal, enhancing their scenic and prominent locations. The Wakeman Bridge demonstrates how these structures became more skeletal and refined by the mid-1930s. an earlier example of an open spandrel arch, built by Ohio Department of Highways in 1929, was located in Fitchville on U.S. 250, also crossing the Vermilion River.