Ben Williamson Memorial Bridge & Simeon Willis Memorial Bridge
Bridge in Ohio and Ashland, Kentucky From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ben Williamson Memorial Bridge and Simeon Willis Memorial Bridge, also known as the Green Bridge and Blue Bridge respectively, are a pair of cantilever bridges that connect Coal Grove, Ohio to Ashland, Kentucky, crossing the Ohio River. Completed in 1932, it is named for Senator Ben M. Williamson.
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2019) |
Ben Williamson Memorial Bridge & Simeon Willis Memorial Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Old Ben is the green bridge in this photo; Simeon Bridge is on the right | |
| Coordinates | 38°29′03″N 082°38′28″W |
| Carries | 5 lanes; 2 of southbound SR 652 and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (12th Street); 3 lanes of Northbound Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (13th Street) and SR 652 |
| Crosses | Ohio River |
| Locale | Coal Grove, Ohio and Ashland, Kentucky |
| Other name(s) | Green Bridge, Old Ben, 12th Street Bridge, Blue Bridge, 13th Street Bridge |
| Maintained by | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cantilever bridges |
| Longest span | 738 feet (225 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1932; 1985 |
| Location | |
 | |
In 1985, a bridge known as the Simeon Willis Memorial Bridge, was opened to traffic. The second span is named for Kentucky Governor Simeon S. Willis. The bridge was originally planned to cross at 45th St. and connect to a proposed Ashland bypass, but was instead built one block from the existing bridge and carries only northbound traffic while that one was converted to serve southbound traffic.
Since the completion of the Willis bridge, the Williamson Bridge has been closed and traffic in both directions has been diverted to the Willis bridge four times. In 1989 and 2018, the Williamson bridge was closed for renovations[1] and for painting in 2007. The Williamson bridge was also closed and traffic again diverted to the Willis Bridge for several months in 2013 after a tractor-trailer ran into the tower on the Ohio side, causing structural damage to the bridge.[2]
The shorter Ohio portion of the dual bridge officially carries part of Ohio State Route 652, but is not signed as such.[3]
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