Bellaire Bridge
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The Bellaire Interstate Toll Bridge was constructed by the J.E. Greiner and Company. Taking 18 months to construct, the total cost came to be about $1.5 million, a tidy sum of money. Over seven million tons of structural steel was used in the construction of the Ohio river crossing.
[edit] Overview
When the bridge opened on December 22, 1926, over 7,000 vehicles crossed it. A toll was required to cover the costs. For just a nickel, you would be granted a one-way trip. For nearly 45 years, the toll would remain the same. In 1971, the toll was increased to a quarter with a round trip costing only 40 cents. The bridge began losing money in 1984, so the toll was increased to 50 cents one-way or a dollar for a round trip.
The Ohio River crossing was closed to traffic on May 1, 1991. This was because the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) needed to demolish the Ohio approach ramp to the crossing for a relocated state route 7 expressway.
