BRIDGES AND VIADUCTS

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland pt. FIVE, tit. XI, ch. 577

in effect

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.01 Enforcement of Provisions

§ 577.01 Enforcement of Provisions The Harbor Master shall see that the provisions of this chapter are fully and faithfully observed, and, when necessary, he or she may call on the Chief of Police for aid.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.02 Passage through Draws

§ 577.02 Passage through Draws No more than one (1) boat or craft for which the draw of any bridge has to be opened or swung shall pass through the draw at the same time.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.03 Signals on Drawbridges

§ 577.03 Signals on Drawbridges The Director of Port Control shall provide and maintain vessel signals on each City drawbridge; such signals shall consist of a red ball not less than fifteen (15) inches in diameter for use in daylight, and a red lantern for use in the night time. Such signals shall be placed near the center of each such bridge, except that on the Columbus Street bridge signals shall be placed on the south draw span thereof. Such signals shall be so arranged when elevated as to be seen easily up or down the River. (Ord. No. 1484-54. Passed 6-21-54, eff. 6-29-54)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.04 Signals from Vessels at Drawbridges

§ 577.04 Signals from Vessels at Drawbridges No tug or other steam craft shall give more than one (1) call or signal to open a drawbridge, unless the captain, bridge tender or other person in charge of the drawbridge shall fail to promptly run up the red ball or lantern on the bridge signaled to be opened.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.05 Duties of Bridge Tenders

§ 577.05 Duties of Bridge Tenders All bridge tenders and other persons in charge of drawbridges in the City shall always be on duty and constant watch during the hours assigned to them, and shall, as soon as they hear the signal given by any tug or other steam craft for their bridge to be opened, immediately run up the red ball during the day, or a red lantern during the night, and in addition to the abovementioned signals ring the bell, or give such other signal as may be on the bridge, so that the persons in charge of the approaching craft may know that the bridge is to be opened for them to pass through. The red ball or light shall be lowered as soon as the vessel has passed the draw. Whoever violates this section shall be subject to dismissal.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.06 Red Signal at Bridges

§ 577.06 Red Signal at Bridges No owner, officer or other person in charge of any tug, steamer or other vessel navigating the Cuyahoga River or old river bed, shall attempt to pass any City drawbridge until the red ball or lantern is up, nor shall they approach so near to any City bridge at such times as to damage the same while being opened or closed.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.07 Closing Bridges against Vessels

§ 577.07 Closing Bridges against Vessels The captain, bridge tenders or other persons in charge of any of the drawbridges shall not close the same against vessels or boats seeking to pass through, until passengers and teams have been delayed fully ten (10) minutes by the draws of the abovementioned bridges being open.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.08 Ten Minute Periods for Opening and Closing Bridges

§ 577.08 Ten Minute Periods for Opening and Closing Bridges Whenever, between the hours of 7:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. persons, teams or vehicles have been delayed fully ten (10) minutes, by reason of the drawbridges being open for vessels or boats to pass through, the captain, bridge tender or other person in charge of the drawbridge, shall lower the red ball or red lantern, and immediately close such draw and keep the same closed for fully ten (10) minutes for such persons, teams or vehicles to pass over, if so much time shall be required, when such draw shall be opened again and be kept open, if necessary for vessels or boats to pass, for a like period of ten (10) minutes, and so on alternately if necessary, during the hours aforesaid.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.09 Hours when Drawbridge Closed for Traffic

§ 577.09 Hours when Drawbridge Closed for Traffic The Director of Port Control shall by rule designate the hours when it may be necessary to keep any City drawbridge closed for the accommodation of traffic. (Ord. No. 1484-54. Passed 6-21-54, eff. 6-29-54)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.10 Closing Bridges for Fire Apparatus

§ 577.10 Closing Bridges for Fire Apparatus Whenever at any alarm or fire, any fire engine, hose cart or other fire apparatus approaches any drawbridge for the purpose of crossing the same, toward such fire, the captain, bridge tender or other person in charge of the draw, shall, if such bridge is open, lower the signal and close the draw as soon as practicable, or if closed, keep closed until such engine or other fire apparatus has had an opportunity to pass over the drawbridge, notwithstanding vessels or boats may thereby be delayed.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.11 Funeral Processions

§ 577.11 Funeral Processions Whenever a funeral procession may be crossing a drawbridge, and a signal is given by a vessel or boat passing up or down the Cuyahoga River, to open the draw, the captain, bridge tender or other person in charge of the drawbridge, over which the procession is passing, shall raise the red ball or lantern, but shall not ring the bell or give such other signal as may be on the bridge, or open the draw, until the procession has passed over. After raising the red ball or lantern, indicating that the vessel signal has been recognized, he or she shall immediately lower the red ball or lantern and keep the same lowered until the procession has passed, when he or she shall again raise it.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.12 Cases of Danger or Inability to Open Bridge

§ 577.12 Cases of Danger or Inability to Open Bridge In case of danger or inability to open any drawbridge, the captain or tender in charge thereof shall lower the red ball or lantern, as an indication to approaching vessels that the passage is closed.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.13 Defacing, Damaging or Climbing on Bridges

§ 577.13 Defacing, Damaging or Climbing on Bridges No person shall deface or injure any part of any bridge or viaduct, or commit a nuisance upon or underneath any part of the same, or upon or underneath any part of the stairways connected therewith; nor shall any person be permitted to climb among the iron trusses of the fixed spans or drawbridges thereof, except the employees on such bridge or viaduct.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.14 Rubbish under Viaducts; Posting Bills

§ 577.14 Rubbish under Viaducts; Posting Bills No material of any kind shall be deposited under any of the viaducts, without a permit from the Director of Port Control; no material shall be deposited adjacent to a viaduct that would injure the structure in case of fire. No bills, posters or advertisements of any kind shall be posted on any part of any viaduct. (Ord. No. 1484-54. Passed 6-21-54, eff. 6-29-54)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.15 Fixed Bridges Prohibited

§ 577.15 Fixed Bridges Prohibited No individual or corporation shall hereafter build or maintain, at any point across the Cuyahoga River, within the limits of the City, any bridge unprovided with a swing or draw, so that the same cannot easily be swung or drawn, to allow any and all vessels navigating the River to pass without interruption.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.16 Bridges Required to Have Draws or Swings

§ 577.16 Bridges Required to Have Draws or Swings No person or corporation, or the officers of such corporation, shall build any bridge across the River within the City, not provided with a swing or draw, as aforesaid, or shall allow any such bridge already built to remain without the construction of a swing or draw therein.

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 577.99 Penalty

§ 577.99 Penalty (a) Whoever violates any provision of this chapter for which no other penalty is provided shall be fined not less than five dollars ($5.00) nor more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00), and shall also be liable to the City for all damage that may be done to any of the drawbridges by collision or otherwise. (b) Whoever violates Section 577.16 shall be fined not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense, and one hundred dollars ($100.00) for every subsequent offense, and ten dollars ($10.00) per day for every day subsequent to the first conviction, that such bridge is allowed to remain.

Source: City of Cleveland, Ohio, Codified Ordinances and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/cleveland/latest/cleveland_oh/0-0-0-30586Fetched: 11/1/2026