All-America Bridge
All-America Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°05′41″N 81°30′46″W / 41.094637°N 81.512737°W |
| Carries | 4 lanes of SR 261 and 1 sidewalk |
| Crosses | Little Cuyahoga River |
| Locale | Akron, Ohio |
| Official name | All-America Bridge |
| Other name(s) | Y-Bridge |
| Preceded by | North Hill Viaduct |
| Characteristics | |
| Height | 134 feet (41 m) |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1982 |
| Location | |
The All-America Bridge in Akron, Ohio is a viaduct carrying Ohio State Route 261 over the Little Cuyahoga River that splits into a one-way pair. The west span opened on October 31, 1981, and the east span opened in 1982.[1][2] The bridge was named in recognition of Akron's past All-America City Awards[2] and is also locally known as the Y-Bridge.[3][4][5] The bridge is 134 feet tall in its highest location.[2]
The bridge's predecessor, the 1922 North Hill Viaduct, was closed in 1977 after a long history of chunks of concrete falling from the bridge.[6] The poem Under the Viaduct, 1932 from the Pulitzer Prize winning book of poems Thomas and Beulah by Rita Dove references the North Hill Viaduct.
Over its existence, the North Hill Viaduct had been the site of at least one suicide a year, though police records were not complete. At least two survived jumps in the 1930s.[7] The replacement bridge has also been a magnet for suicides. From 1997 until December 3, 2009, 29 people committed suicide by jumping from the bridge.[8][9] In 2009, it was announced that $1 million to $1.5 million would be spent to fence the bridge using federal economic stimulus funds.[3] Fencing the bridge was controversial in Akron and the plan had previously failed to receive local support.[10][11] Previous local attempts to fence the bridge failed in 1991, 1993, 2000 and 2006.[12][13] The project, stopped for the winter of 2010–2011,[14] was finally completed in late December 2011 at a total cost of around $8.7 million.[4] In spite of the presence of the fence, another suicide occurred on June 28, 2012.[15] A project to replace the fencing began in 2025.[5]
References
- ^ Price, Mark J. (May 19, 2025). "Those were the days: Readers share fond memories of Akron". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Bridge Basics". Akron Beacon Journal. December 6, 2009.
- ^ a b Cooper, Michael (May 5, 2009). "Soul-Searching in Akron, Ohio, Over Stimulus Use". The New York Times. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
Its official name, the one on maps and signs, is the All-America Bridge. Most people here call it the Y Bridge, though, for the way it forks as it enters downtown.
- ^ a b Warsmith, Stephanie (January 8, 2012). "Y-Bridge project more costly, takes longer than expected; officials pleased with result". Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^ a b Kreider, Derek (March 5, 2025). "Akron's Y-Bridge is getting new safety fences, other upgrades with ODOT and city funds". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ Price, Mark J. (September 27, 2015). "Local history: Save the arch! Viaduct's last-standing section gained public support in 1978". Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^ Grollmus, Denise (June 8, 2005). "Suicide Bridge". Cleveland Scene. Archived from the original on April 8, 2007. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
- ^ Price, Mark J. (December 6, 2009). "'Suicide Bridge' Spans Lives". Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^ "'Suicide Bridge'". Akron Beacon Journal. December 6, 2009.
- ^ Warsmith, Stephanie; Armon, Rick; Downing, Bob (March 27, 2009). "Y-Bridge Will Be Fenced". Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^ Kist, Stephanie (June 5, 2008). "West Akron couple urge Council to fence Y-Bridge". West Side Leader. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
- ^ Massey, Delano R. (May 31, 2006). "City May Fence In Bridge". Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^ Quinn, Jim (June 22, 1993). "Funds Are Sought For Fences Along Y-Bridge". Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^ Warsmith, Stephanie (November 24, 2010). "Y-bridge to remain fully open until spring". Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^ "Man Commits Suicide off All-America Bridge". Akron Beacon Journal. June 29, 2012.