Location:Between Bellaire, OH and Benwood, WV (view map)
Type: Cantilever Truss
Year Built: 1926
Crosses: Ohio River

The 1926 Bellaire Bridge is probably the oldest cantilever in the entire state of West Virginia, but it will be demolished in summer of 2010. It is the second oldest truss bridge (not counting railroad-built bridges or back channel bridges) over the entire Ohio River! The bridge is also famous, since some scenes from the movie Silence of the Lambs were filmed on it. The Bellaire Bridge was one of three privately-owned bridges over the Ohio River between Ohio and West Virginia. In May 1991 the Interstate Bridge Company sold the right of way of the Ohio ramp to ODOT, who demolished the ramp to make room for the OH 7 freeway. Note that the ramp is at an angle to the bridge, connecting to 32nd Street. The bridge itself was sold to Roger Barack, who was going to reconnect the bridge with Bellaire, Ohio. This never happened because Mr. Barack was unable to obtain a permit. Barack tried again in the early 2000's, but was still unsuccessful. Since then this ''bridge to nowhere'' has sat as a barrier, separating Bellaire and Benwood. Other than the deck of the approach span, the bridge is in remarkably good condition. The bridge was undergoing refurbishment just prior to its closure, and most of the pins along the top chord were replaced. New floorbeams were also added to support the deck. With the bridge unused, the Coast Guard was concerned about the bridge collapsing and impeding navigation, and Norfolk Southern Railroad wanted a bridge pier off their property. Facing lawsuits, the bridge was sold in 2010 to a company to demolish the bridge for scrap. It is unlikely a new bridge will ever be built connecting Bellaire and Benwood.

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