American Bridge Company News - The Waterways Journal

Remains of an Early 20th Century Towboat Stir Memories The Wm. Edenborn new in 1913. (From the author’s collection)

Remains of an Early 20th Century Towboat Stir Memories

April 25, 2025

There are times when a single photo can cause a flood of memories to wash through the mind. This happened recently with a photo depicting a partially beached hull with… Read More

New Illinois River Span Floated Into Place In Peoria The new eastbound span of the McClugage Bridge over the Illinois River in Peoria, Ill., was floated 300 yards from the assembly site on jumbo barges before being lifted into place. The bridge carries U.S. 150 at Illinois River Mile 165.8. (Photo by Capt. Tony Ice)

The new eastbound span of the McClugage Bridge over the Illinois River in Peoria, Ill., was floated 300 yards from the assembly site on jumbo barges before being lifted into place. The bridge carries U.S. 150 at Illinois River Mile 165.8. (Photo by Capt. Tony Ice)

New Illinois River Span Floated Into Place In Peoria

January 5, 2024

After a year of construction, the main span of a new bridge across the Illinois River has been floated and lifted into place. Pat Ryan, American Bridge Company’s… Read More

Monongahela: Among The Last Large Sternwheel Towboats The Monongahela as built and in service for Carnegie Illinois Steel. (David Smith collection)

The Monongahela as built and in service for Carnegie Illinois Steel. (David Smith collection)

Monongahela: Among The Last Large Sternwheel Towboats

December 18, 2023

By the mid-1920s, diesel-powered boats were becoming more numerous, but for the heavy jobs, such as towing steel products from Pittsburgh to points on the Lower Mississippi River, steam… Read More

New Cumberland River Bridge Opens In Smithland, Ky. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear gives remarks during the opening of the Jim R. Smith Memorial Bridge May 15. The bridge carries U.S. 60 over the Cumberland River in Smithland, Ky. (Photo by Shelley Byrne)

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear gives remarks during the opening of the Jim R. Smith Memorial Bridge May 15. The bridge carries U.S. 60 over the Cumberland River in Smithland, Ky. (Photo by Shelley Byrne)

New Cumberland River Bridge Opens In Smithland, Ky.

May 19, 2023

Amid the crowd gathered for the opening of a new U.S. 60 bridge over the Cumberland River in Smithland, Ky., Muriel Dickerson stood out. Dickerson, 102, was living… Read More

New Smithland Bridge Truss Floated Into Place Excell Marine towboats took the 700-foot steel truss that is the main span for the new Cumberland River bridge at Smithland down the Tennessee River from Paducah, then up the Ohio River to the Cumberland River at Smithland. It was floated on four jumbo barges. (Photo by Shelley Byrne)

Excell Marine towboats took the 700-foot steel truss that is the main span for the new Cumberland River bridge at Smithland down the Tennessee River from Paducah, then up the Ohio River to the Cumberland River at Smithland. It was floated on four jumbo barges. (Photo by Shelley Byrne)

New Smithland Bridge Truss Floated Into Place

September 16, 2022

Dozens of people gathered September 12 at the riverfronts in Paducah and Smithland, Ky., watching as the 700-foot-long main span for a new bridge over the Cumberland River made… Read More

River Closures Planned To Float In New Smithland Span The 700-foot steel truss that comprises the main span of the new U.S. 60 bridge over the Cumberland River will be floated and lifted into place later in September. The work will cause brief closures of portions of the Tennessee and Ohio rivers and a closure of up to three days at the new bridge’s site. (Photo courtesy of American Bridge Company)

The 700-foot steel truss that comprises the main span of the new U.S. 60 bridge over the Cumberland River will be floated and lifted into place later in September. The work will cause brief closures of portions of the Tennessee and Ohio rivers and a closure of up to three days at the new bridge’s site. (Photo courtesy of American Bridge Company)

River Closures Planned To Float In New Smithland Span

September 2, 2022

Portions of three rivers will close later in September as crews plan to float in and raise the 700-foot-long main span of a new bridge over the Cumberland River… Read More

Construction Of New Cumberland River Bridge Remains Ahead Of Schedule Assembly of the 700-foot steel truss for the main span of the new Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland, Ky., was completed in late February, and painting is now 30-40 percent completed. (Photo by Martina Britts, American Bridge Company)

Assembly of the 700-foot steel truss for the main span of the new Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland, Ky., was completed in late February, and painting is now 30-40 percent completed. (Photo by Martina Britts, American Bridge Company)

Construction Of New Cumberland River Bridge Remains Ahead Of Schedule

May 20, 2022

Construction of a new bridge over the Cumberland River at Smithland, Ky., remains significantly ahead of schedule, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). The contractor resumed roadway… Read More

Paducah Port Director Highlights New Opportunities The Paducah-McCracken County Riverport hopes to expand the capacity of its 20-acre bulk commodity storage yard and transfer facility with landside yard and equipment upgrades and expansions. (Photo courtesy of the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport)

The Paducah-McCracken County Riverport hopes to expand the capacity of its 20-acre bulk commodity storage yard and transfer facility with landside yard and equipment upgrades and expansions. (Photo courtesy of the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport)

Paducah Port Director Highlights New Opportunities

August 20, 2021

The Paducah-McCracken County Riverport is undergoing a revitalization, increasing its throughput, landing new projects and seeking to expand its bulk product-handling capacity. Executive director Tim Cahill said the… Read More

The Towboat Monongahela The steamer Monongahela downbound on the Ohio River in 1939. (Keith Norrington collection)

The Towboat Monongahela

January 24, 2021

In 1927, the American Bridge Company at Ambridge, Pa., constructed a steel hull measuring 169.8 feet in length by 38.9 feet in width and having a depth of 6.5… Read More

The Charles R. Cox

November 17, 2018

This towboat was originally built as the William G. Clyde. Constructed at Ambridge, Pa., in 1922 by the American Bridge Company, the vessel was completed at the Coal Valley… Read More