The landmark Rich Street Bridge crowned the downtown Columbus, Ohio riverfront when it opened in 2012. Designed by the award-winning bridge engineers at Burgess & Niple (B&N), the Rich Street Bridge was completed in time for the city’s bicentennial celebrations and caps off the transformation of the Columbus riverfront.
The 563-foot modern rib arch structure was built in a new location to replace the deteriorating Town Street Bridge. The Rich Street Bridge improves connectivity between downtown and neighboring Franklinton and will bolster economic development.
The new span complements the City’s historic district while blending with the family of arch bridges along the Scioto River. The $18.5 million (construction) Rich Street Bridge features:
- A modern precast open rib arch design
- Five spans and three lanes
- Architectural lighting
- Pedestrian friendly amenities, such as wide sidewalks
- Plazas and utilities for use during festivals and community events
The distinctive bridge design required complex engineering. Design innovation led to benefits including construction time and cost savings and reduced long-term maintenance needs. Highlights include:
- Fabrication of the varying sized bridge arches from one adjustable form to save time and money
- Use of lightweight precast concrete arch ribs instead of cast-in-place folded plate arches as originally planned to decrease construction time
- Design of a prestressed and field post-tensioned, fully continuous five-span frame, without intermediate joints, which improves corrosion resistance and is maintenance-friendly
B&N engineers made refinements during the design process that shortened construction by seven months and reduced estimated project costs by $10 million.
During his comments at the bridge opening ceremony, Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman called the Rich Street Bridge a history-making structure that is connected to the economic development of the community.
“It’s a beautiful bridge,” noted Mayor Coleman. “And our goal is to make the city better in every way, and this bridge will certainly be a part of making our city the best city in the nation to live, to work and to raise a family.”
B&N teamed with Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner and Bridgescape, LLC to create the iconic bridge.
Honors & Awards
The Rich Street Bridge has been recognized by a number of industry organizations at the local, regional and national level.
- 2014 Bridge Design Award of Excellence, Portland Cement Association (PCA)
- 2014 PCI Design Award: All Pre-cast Concrete Solution, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)
- 2014 PCI Design Award: Best Bridge with Main Span from 76 to 149 Feet, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)
- 2013 National Recognition Award, American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
- 2013 Outstanding Achievement Award, American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Ohio
- 2013 Project of the Year Award, American Society of Highway Engineers, Great Lakes Region
- 2013 Outstanding New Short Span Bridge Award, Association for Bridge Construction & Design, Northeastern Ohio Chapter
- 2012 Outstanding Highway Project Award, American Society of Highway Engineers, Central Ohio Section
- 2012 Peer’s Choice Award, American Society of Highway Engineers, Central Ohio Section
- 2012 James B. Recchie Design & Preservation Award, Columbus Landmarks Foundation