driving from columbus oh to freedom pa and am afraid of bridges. need route with none (Pittsburgh: construction)

[trishafae]

Hi . i just did driving directions from columbus ohio to freedom pa on mapquest.

Any idea the best way to find out ahead of time if there are bridges on the way. I know it sounds idiotic, but I am very very afraid to drive over bridges, even if they don't go over water, bridges of almost any sort.

Any hope for me to make this trip?

Thanks

[South Range Family]

Bridges???? You're kidding, right? Most people are afraid to drive through tunnels here. That's why the parkway backs up every morning. A fear of bridges would paralyze the area. The Pittsburgh area has more bridges than you can shake a stick at.

Ok, to answer your question. There are basicly two routes from Columbus to here. The shortest quickest route would be Route 70 East to 79 North, then back track to 60 North past the airport to route 68 Beaver, cross the river at Rochester, take 65 to Freedom. If route 22 catches 70 in West Virginia, that would also get you to the airport area. The problem with all of this is that you are on the wrong side of the Ohio River and there are plenty of bridges to cross. The 60 exit to Beaver is on a bridge.

Your other option is longer, but less bridges. 71 North towards Cleveland. Catch the Ohio turnpike, and take it East to the Pa. Turnpike. Get off at the Cranberry exit. Take route 228 (Freedom Crider Rd.) through New Sewickley Township straight into the top of Freedom. I know of two bridges along that route. One crosses the Cuyahoga river near Cleveland. It is the tallest, and longest bridge I have ever been on. If anything is going to freak you out, that one will. The other bridge crosses Meander Reservoir near Youngstown. It's really low and close to the water. I believe there is construction there making it one lane.

Once you get here, I hope that somebody else will be driving. You cannot get anywhere around here without crossing a bridge. Freedom sits on the Ohio River, sometimes even under it. There are three bridges in sight of Freedom itself. Welcome to the city of bridges.

[South Range Family]

I was crossing the Ohio River this morning thinking about you doing the same thing. I then realized that I made a terrible mistake in your second set of directions.

When coming up 71, you don't go all the way to Cleveland. That means you don't cross the Cuyahoga River valley. 71 catches 76 at the Barberton/ Akron area. 76 changes into the Ohio Turnpike in North Jackson, right before Meander Reservoir. It then heads Southeast missing the lake. You will have to cross Lake Milton though. It's very low to the water, and hardly counts as a bridge.

I'm sorry for making that mistake. I don't know what I was thinking.

You could also use Google Earth to to make your trip first. You can then see first hand where every bridge is.

[trishafae]

Hey, thanks for all the info (although you scared the heck out of me with all that "bridge" talk!!
I am thinking of having my friend from Freedom meet me halfway. I just have to figure out where that would be. I would leave Lancaster, Oh at Rt 37 and Route 70 and take Route 70 towards my goal (wherever that is). Then I will need to see what is in the area and a good place to meet.
When I was younger I drove from Ohio to Florida all the time and those big bridges didn't bother me a bit, now even some highway overpasses bother me if I can see them ahead of time and if they are really high.
thanks again for all your help.

[sunsetcliff]

the turnpike has pricey tolls. ild avoid it based on tolls.