The full name of this bridge is
The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. Roebling of course is the man who went
on to build the Brooklyn Bridge. Roebling , in August of 1856, signed a contract
for the project. Work was stopped when winter arrived, and then the panic of
1957 plus the start of the Civil War caused construction to be stopped. In
1863 work was spurred on by the need to erect a pontoon bridge to
transport Union troops defending Kentucky. On September 4, 1865, a footbridge
was completed so that workers could begin to string the cable.
On December 1, 1866, the Suspension Bridge
Was opened to pedestrians, In the first two days more than 120,000 people paid
the three cents toll to cross the bridge. On New Years Day 1867 the bridge was
officially opened to vehicles. In 1896 a second set of cables were added along
with a wider roadway, streetcar rails, and electric lights, this work
effectively doubled its carrying capacity..
During the flood of 1937 this bridge was
the only crossing along 800 miles of the Ohio River. The toll booths were
removed November 25, 1963, ( the same time the Brent Spence opened). It was
placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
CAPACITY
CASH
25 TICKETS
Coupe
10
cents
$1.88
Less than 1/2
Ton
& Passengers
Cars
15
cents
$2.82
1/2 to 7/8
Tons
20
cents
$3.75
1 to 1 7/8
Tons
25
cents
$4.69
2 to 2 7/8
Tons
30
cents
$5.63
3 to 4 1/2
Tons
50
cents
$9.38
5 to 9 1/2
Tons
75
cents
$14.07
Real photo shows flood stage, retouched does not.
7" x 9" Jumbo card
The next two rows show views from the Covington, Kentucky side of the Ohio River.
Very rare postcard view from the Licking River
Very early private mailing
card
View from top
