Frederick Gottemoeller - Bridgescape LLC

The High Main Street Bridge over the Great Miami River replaces a concrete arch that had stood for ninety years in the middle of Hamilton’s monumental civic buildings. Normally in a situation like this it is preferable to design a bridge which is contemporary in appearance but which fits the historical context of the site.  However, Hamilton insisted on a bridge that directly resembled the previous bridge. In response, the best modern technology was used to create a bridge that emulated its predecessor.

The old bridge had graceful elliptical arches and was extremely thin at its midspans. Custom precast concrete spliced girders are used in the new bridge to replicate the curves of the old arches while keeping the midspans very thin. The end spans were designed as half-arches to allow new river walks on both banks. The details of the girders, overlooks and railings emulate the architecture of the Soldiers, Sailors & Pioneers Monument on the east bank, symbolically extending its presence to the west bank. All of these features are aimed at integrating the new structure into not only the physical fabric of the monumental district but into its daily life.