The Old Washington "S" Bridge - Old Washington, OH
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 40° 02.683 W 081° 22.453
17T E 468077 N 4432787
The Old Washington "S" Bridge on the Old National Road in Ohio is registered as a National Historic Landmark.
Waymark Code: WMDWQB
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 03/03/2012
Views: 12
The Old National Road was constructed between 1811 and 1838 between Cumberland, MD and Vandalia, IL. When the road passed over a creek at an angle, it was more expedient to build an arched stone bridge at right angles to the creek and build "S" shaped walls to guide traffic around the jog. Old Washington "S" Bridge was built around 1838. Very few of these bridges still exist. It has been designated as a Registered National Historic Landmark. A pair of plaques are located at the southern end of the "s" Bridge.
A marker placed by the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers is inscribed:
"S" Bridge
Old National Road - Built about 1828
Where the road crossed a creek at an angle,
a stone arch bridge was built at right
angles to the stream flow. "S" shaped walls
were then built to guide traffic around the
jog from the direction of travel across
the bridge and back onto the road line.
An arch parallel with the stream flow and
in line with the road would have been more
difficult and costly to build.
This marker erected by Ohio Society of Professional Engineers - 1954
An adjacent plaque on a pole is inscribed:
S-BRIDGE NATIONAL ROAD
HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A
REGISTERED NATIONAL
HISTORIC LANDMARK
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE
HISTORIC SITES ACT OF AUGUST 21, 1935
THIS SITE POSSESSES EXCEPTIONAL VALUE
IN COMMEMORATING AND ILLUSTRATING
THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
1965