The Closing of the Town Street Bridge, a Columbus Landmark
By Rickie Longfellow
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| The Town Street Bridge was constructed in 1917 |
Columbus is defined, not only by its skyline of buildings, but by the Scioto River and the old, steel train trusses and concrete bridges that cross over it.
When Columbus was first settled in 1812, a bridge over the Scioto didn't appear to be needed. If folks wanted to go to Franklinton across the river, they rowed, took a canoe or ferry. Another option was to go down river to a ford area and wade across either by foot or horseback.
However the founder of Franklinton, Lucas Sullivant, saw the need for a bridge and built one in 1816. It was a single lane covered bridge and although a toll was charged, it acquired so much traffic that a new bridge was needed within a few years. The new bridge lasted until 1882.
As Columbus grew, more bridges were needed. By 1900, Columbus was a modern manufacturing city. It became known as the Buggy Capital of the World due to The Columbus Buggy Company and other similar buggy manufacturing companies.
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| Town Street Bridge closed in July 2008 |
In 1917, the year American joined World War I, the Town Street Bridge was constructed. Its 90-year lifespan experienced generations of families traveling in a variety of transportation modes such as the early automobiles, as well as wagons, buckboards and horses, to the weight and speed of current day trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, and automobiles.
Like the Broad Street Bridge that has seen several replacements over the last two centuries, and the Main Street Bridge built in 1937 and currently being replaced, the Town Street Bridge was due for replacement as well. Plans were made for a replacement bridge connecting Rich Street on the east side of the Scioto, to be called the Rich Street Bridge, with a closing date of the Town Street Bridge of January 2009.
The Town Street Bridge, with its beautiful concrete carvings, however, was closed in July of 2008, six months ahead of schedule. An inspection revealed some potential safety problems prompting the Town Street Bridge to be closed to traffic in both directions and to all pedestrians.
Come January 2009, the demolition of the Town Street Bridge closes a chapter in Columbus history, while opening a new chapter in the design and safety of a new bridge over the Scioto River.
