Vita di Paese: Bridge(s) Over Troubled Water

June 2024 | Diana Lucarino-Diekmann

The Cuyahoga River, dividing the east and west sides of Cleveland, was one of the most polluted waterways in the country. Unregulated dumping for over 100 years had smothered the river in a foot of oil, chemicals, and other pollutants, causing it to catch fire at least 13 times since the 1860s and making it the brunt of many jokes.

When it caught fire again in 1969, it became the rallying cry for the nascent environmental movement that pushed for action on its clean-up, an ongoing effort to this day.

Also ongoing is the restoration of the many iconic bridges spanning the Cuyahoga, some of which are no longer in service, yet help preserve Cleveland’s industrial heritage.

Movable bridges, ones that close to traffic to allow a ship to pass, perform vital functions and Cleveland has several that are unique.

Traveling up the Cuyahoga River you will see more movable bridges than can be seen in any other place in the world. With my fascination for old bridges, I am one Clevelander that takes pride in these iconic downtown Cleveland bridges, moveable or not. Here are only a few of the many bridges that caught my eye.