Built to carry the B&O Railroad over
the Cuyahoga River, this bridge is a single-
leaf, jack-knife bascule bridge. Bascule
bridges operate by pivoting against a
counterweight like a seesaw. The weight
of the bridge is balanced by a weighted
lever arm supported by the tower located
at the base of the bridge. This bridge
has been mothballed in the open position,
with the lever arm folded against the upright
span, thus the name “jack-knife.”