Melan Arch Bridge, Cincinnati

The Melan Arch Bridge in Cincinnati is a landmark of American engineering history, being the first concrete arch span bridge constructed in Ohio. Built in 1894, it represents an early and rare example of reinforced concrete bridge design, employing the Melan system-a technique introduced from Europe by Austrian engineer Fritz Von Emperger and adapted in the U.S. by the Melan Arch Construction Co.

The bridge is a closed spandrel concrete arch, filled between the arch and deck to resemble traditional stone arches. Steel beams embedded in the arch make it a hybrid Melan-type structure-an early milestone in U.S. reinforced concrete technology, predating more common systems like the Ransome method.

Originally adorned with decorative stone eagles salvaged from Cincinnati’s Chamber of Commerce building, which was lost to a fire in 1911, the bridge also carried a touch of historical ornamentation. Although its original railings were replaced in 1949, the structure otherwise retains a high degree of historical and structural integrity.

Designated as part of Cliff Drive, the bridge is not only among the oldest surviving concrete bridges in the U.S. but it is also believed to be the oldest Melan arch bridge in Ohio. Its 2006 rehabilitation was executed with sensitivity to its historical features, ensuring that key elements such as the arch ring, barrel, spandrel wall, and abutments remain intact and expressive of their original design.

The Melan Arch Bridge, a filled spandrel concrete arch, is part of the earliest generation of reinforced concrete bridges-designed before open spandrels and inspired by stone arches. Built in the 1890s–1920s, such bridges are rare today and valued for their unique construction and historical role. As Ohio’s first concrete arch span, the bridge is a quiet symbol of early engineering innovation and transatlantic experimentation.