Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge
(Interstate 470 Bridge)
NBI Information
Location
State: West Virginia
County: Ohio County
Feature Carried: I-470
Feature Crossed: Ohio River
Latitude, Longitude: 40.0499,-80.7304
Toll: On free road
Maintenance Responsibility: State Highway Agency
Structure Open, Posted, or Closed to Traffic: Open, no restriction
History
Year Built: 1978
Historical Significance: Bridge is not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Year Reconstructed: None
Picture Date: April 23, 2026
Geometry
Lanes on Structure: 4
Lanes under Structure: 0
Skew: 0 degrees
Number of Main Spans: 1
Main Structure Type: Arch - Thru
Main Structure Material: Stee
Number of Approach Spans: 0
Approach Structure Type: None
Approach Structure Material: None
Condition
Inspection Date: April 2024
Deck Condition: Fair
Superstructure Condition: Fair
Substructure Condition: Fair
Channel Condition: Very Good
Culvert: Not Applicable
NBI Year: 2025
Bridge Information
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge, also called the Interstate 470 Bridge, is a tied arch bridge across the Ohio River.
Construction began in 1875, and the bridge was expected to open by October 1981. The contractor was able to accelerate the construction, and 4 months ahead of schedule in early 1981. However, an inspection in April 1981 revealed that strands of five of the cables had frayed due to wind-induced vibration that caused friction against the steel superstructure. The opening was delayed until June of 1983 while the cables were repaired.
References
Cahal, Sherman. “Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge.” Bridges and Tunnels, 13 Jan. 2021, https://bridgestunnels.com/location/vietnam-veterans-memorial-bridge/. Accessed 29 July 2026.
