Historic Little Kanawha River Bridge, Parkersburg, West Virginia

Construction on the Little Kanawha 5th Street Bridge in Parkersburg, West Virginia began in 1935 and was completed in early 1937 with the dedication taking place on May 7, 1937. It was built by the Public Works Administration and the state road commission at a cost of $615,000.00. The Public Works Administration (PWA) was a federal agency that provided jobs during the Great Depression by constructing public works projects. The Public Works Administration (PWA) reduced unemployment by hiring the unemployed to build new public buildings, roads, bridges, and subways.

To pay for the bridge a Toll House was built 900 feet from the southend of the super structure. The toll house extended completely across the highway with neon signs erected at the toll house to inform motorists that they were approaching the toll bridge.

The main portion of the bridge is about 905 feet long with the main span being 350 feet. The bridge spans the Little Kanawha River and over 25,000 vehicles use the bridge on a daily basis.

Have you ever driven across this bridge? If so let me know in the comments below.

Special thanks to Diana Hill with the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society for supplying historic photos and facts about the bridge for this documentary.

GPS Location: 39º15’37.2”N 81º33’23.0”W