High-Main Street Bridge Receives International Design Award

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The High-Main Street Bridge over the Great Miami River in Hamilton, Ohio, received international accolades during the International Bridge Conference (IBC), June 2-4, 2008, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The bridge, designed by Burgess & Niple, was selected from a worldwide list of distinguished projects to receive IBC’s Eugene C. Figg Jr. Medal for Signature Bridges. The Figg Medal recognizes outstanding achievement in bridge engineering, which through vision and innovation, provides an icon to the community for which it was designed.

Hamilton’s new 500-foot, five-span, concrete arch bridge replaces a historic structure that was built in 1914. The new bridge maintains many characteristics of the former structure while incorporating new features such as pedestrian walkways, bicycle paths, balconies, and lighting at night. A series of nine bronze medallions that depict the bridge’s history with the river were created by a local artist under the guidance of a civic committee, and incorporated into the bridge’s decorative metal railing.

As the main thoroughfare linking the city’s downtown districts, the new High-Main Street Bridge is key to continued economic development in the downtown area. The number of lanes on the new bridge was increased from four to six to accommodate traffic volumes projected to be 54,000 vehicles per day by 2025, and improve overall traffic flow.

Burgess & Niple was responsible for the design of the High-Main Street Bridge. Frederick Gottemoeller, PE, AIA, of Bridgescape LLC, served as the bridge architect.

IBC is the pre-eminent arena for the bridge industry in North America, Europe and Asia. Currently in it’s 25th year, the Conference annually attracts over 1,200 bridge owners and engineers, senior policy makers, government officials, bridge designers, construction executives and suppliers from throughout the U.S. and abroad.

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