(Photo provided) The Washington Street Bridge in 1975. The railings, sidewalks, road surface and lighting were later altered during a major rehab of the bridge.

For much of Marietta’s history those traveling from one side of Marietta to the other depended on the Putnam Street Bridge to get across the Muskingum. When the Washington Street Bridge opened 71 years ago this week it not only provided a second way across the river, it also provided a route between the two sides of the river during periods of high water.

Today more than 10,000 vehicles per day use the bridge that carries Ohio 7 across the river and connects Fort Harmar Drive with Washington Street.

The bridge was part of a larger project to build a road through town that would be out of any potential flood plain. There was no road across the rocky base of Harmar Hill. Fort Harmar Drive would be constructed to connect the bridge area to U.S. 50A (now known as Ohio 550) and Skyline Drive (now known as Ohio 7) with Marietta and points east of Marietta.

The bridge was completed before the road was finished however, so when the bridge opened, it only went as far as Lancaster Street. It would be a year before you could take the highway all the way across the bottom of the hill.

As early as 1946 state officials began surveying to build a new bridge across the Muskingum. The chosen route was much further upstream, near where Colegate Drive connects with Ohio 60.

In 1947, a study showed the location would reroute just 15% of the traffic off the Putnam Street Bridge. Putting the Bridge at St. Clair Street would remove 33%, Scara Via 31.4% and Washington Street 35.5%.

“Based on cost, safety and service to the community,” the Washington Street location was chosen in 1948,” according to an article in The Times.

Local, state and federal officials however would debate the bridge for the next three years until Ohio officials indicated the state would take over its construction.

Construction of the $1,128,849 bridge started on July 9, 1952; construction would take a year to complete, with the dedication taking place on Nov. 21, 1953.

The dedication took place on the approach to the bridge next to the Campus Martius Museum. Bands from Marietta, Waterford and Salem-Liberty High School all played and squads from American Legion posts 64 and 5108 and the VFW all offered a gun salute.

When it was dedicated and opened to traffic it still did not have lights across it.

The 1,036-foot bridge was built with a high clearance over the river, allowing boats of almost any size to pass under the span. The Valley Gem and other crafts are moored below the east side of the River. The Historic W.P. Snyder Jr., is just a few yards upstream of it.

Lane markers mounted on the upstream side have provided guidance for generations of crew teams racing on the river. The multiple concrete piers provide a challenge for coxswains guiding crew shells on the river.

The bridge and the Putnam Bridge downstream have provided a convenient loop for rowers running before practice.

It is a run made safer in 2009 when the bridge underwent a major renovation.

The upstream sidewalk was eliminated at the time, making room for both a wider road surface and a wider sidewalk area on the downstream side protected with a barrier from passing traffic.

Period lighting was also added during the upgrade that saw the entire driving surface of the bridge replaced.

Art Smith is online manager, he can be reached at asmith@mariettatimes.com