1849 Wheeling (Wheeling and Belmont)
- Wheeling, West Virginia, USA (Ohio River)
Charles Ellet
References , AAJ, BBR, BC3, BOB, BPL, CEJ, COB, GBD, HBE, LAB, LACE, ONF, PTS2, RWS, WCC, WHSB
| | Location: | N 40.07167 W 80.72667 | | Maps: | MapQuest, Acme | | Use: | Vehicular (two-lane light) | | Status: | In use (last checked, 2008) | | Main cables: | Wire (iron) | | Suspended spans: | 1 | | Main span: | 1,010f |
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- Notes
- Rebuilt, 1854 after it was wrecked by a windstorm. Contrary to popular myth, the rebuilding was undertaken by Ellet and his assistant William K. McComas, not by John A. Roebling.
- Overhauled, 1860. Again, popular myth often attributes this work to the Roeblings. WHSB attributes this work to William K. McComas. After this overhaul, the bridge still does not have the distinctive diagonal cable stays that give it the appearance of a Roebling bridge.
- Overhauled, 1872, according to a design by Washington Roebling. John A. Roebling had died in 1869 and was not involved with this work. WHSB notes, "The design essentially Roeblingized the bridge with the diagonal cable stays that are such a prominent feature of the bridge."
- Was still part of Virginia at time of completion.
- Became longest suspension bridge by eclipsing 1834 Zaehringen - Fribourg, Switzerland.
- Eclipsed by new longest suspension bridge 1851 Lewiston-Queenston - Lewiston, New York, USA and Queenston, Ontario, Canada.
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