HUNTINGTON, WV/ASHLAND, KY
July 2007
PART 4
On the east side of Huntington, they have the East End Bridge, which carries WV 106 across the Ohio River. This ramp goes from 5th Avenue, over the Guyandotte River, and onto the East End Bridge.
This is going onto the East End Bridge. The towering structure straight ahead is the span's sleek, modern framework. Choice words were uttered as a struggle with the camera ensued.
Now we're crossing the bridge into Ohio.
Looking back at the Ohio approach of the East End Bridge.
Going southwest on OH 7 between Proctorville and Chesapeake.
I've figured out this is probably the Symmes Creek bridge on OH 7 in Chesapeake. Yes, this is the thing you can see from the riverfront park in Huntington.
Now we're going west on US 52 (which effectively continues from the end of OH 7), and we're looking at the Ohio approaches to a pair of bridges that link US 52 with downtown Ashland. Usually the blue bridge, which carries 13th Street, is one-way northeast; the green bridge, which carries Martin Luther King Boulevard, is normally one-way southwest. However, they were in the process of painting the green bridge during my visit, so the blue one had to temporarily go two-way.
This is in Ironton, OH. I think this is going down Park Street.
Would you believe the Ohio River had no road bridge anywhere between Cincinnati and Parkersburg, WV, until the 1920s? Here we're on the Ohio approach to the first bridge that filled this gap. The span connects Ironton with Russell, KY. As you can see, this approach features a 90-degree turn.
Continuing on the Ironton-Russell Bridge. This beautiful structure reminded me of the old Central Bridge in Cincinnati. Unfortunately, however, it was dotted with at least one sign prohibiting pedestrians. Also, this bridge is pretty much at the end of its life, according to transportation officials.
KY 244 is found in the river towns of Greenup County. This is going northwest on a stretch that runs spanking close to the Ohio River.
The road highlight of my vacation! I expanded this photo and cut some of the fat out so you can get a better view of this gargantuan event. This is continuing on KY 244. This tunnel under the rail yard is much narrower and longer than it looks. The facility, which bears a date of 1949, is only one lane. There was no warning of this, and there's no signal to stop cars from entering at each end and colliding head-on. Also, the lighting is so dim that it's almost pitch dark even in the middle of the day. Just past this tunnel, there's another tunnel like this that's slightly shorter but may be just barely wide enough for 2 lanes. Although on a public highway, both tunnels are maintained by the railroad (except that the state controls surface maintenance).