Cleveland is actually known as “a city of bridges.” There are well over 100 bridges of various kinds here, plus viaducts, dams and more. It is nearly impossible to get from one side of the city to the other without crossing a bridge.

There are a variety of bridges including railroad bridges, pedestrian bridges, vehicle bridges and industrial bridges like the Jack bridge. Many of the bridges are historic. Below are photos of some of the bridges we viewed or passed over.

This bridge goes over the Flats.

This actually goes under a bridge in the Flats. Thought the graffiti interesting and not so ugly as some can be.

This view of a vehicle bridge is from the Flats.

This bridge doesn’t seem like one but it is coming up out of the Flats and passing over the beginning of the Erie and PA Canal that was written about in our first Cleveland blog post (actually Cleveland Rocks – 2).

This is a working bridge of some kind for industry. These working bridges all have names and purposes but I couldn’t catch all of that information. Just thought them unique and interesting bridges in the Flats. If you know any of the names and/or purposes of them, please let me know and I’ll add the information here.

One more fun bridge in the Flats!

We are now on the vehicle bridge you saw earlier and crossing over the Flats. I do know the name of this bridge is Jack Bridge, but I do not know the purpose.

Here are some of our favorite views from one of the vehicle bridges. Can you ever guess why?

Opened in 1932, the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge has four large double-sided pylons carved out of sandstone from nearby Berea. These 43-foot tall monoliths are called the “Guardians of Transportation.” They represent technological advances made in transit. Each Guardian carries a different kind of vehicle in its hands. In 1980, the bridge was closed for repairs for nearly three years. It reopened in 1983 and was renamed the Hope Memorial Bridge in honor of comedian Bob Hope and his family. The Hope family were English immigrants to Cleveland in 1908. Bob’s father, William Henry Hope, a stonemason, worked on the creation of the Guardians.

When you are in Cleveland, be sure to notice all the various bridges as you drive over them. And do visit the Flats to see the more unusual ones!

This last photo has a bridge in it, however, it was taken by a
friend and she labeled it: “Damn Tourists!” She loves me!