Art Deco in Decay – the Western Hills Viaduct

Looking east over the Western Hills Viaduct shortly after completion, showing the Camp Washington Rail Yard.

Conceived in the 1920s as part of the Union Terminal Project, the Western Hills Viaduct carries traffic over the massive Camp Washington Rail Yard between South Fairmount and Clifton Heights. It replaced a dangerous grade crossing at Harrison Avenue known as “dead man’s crossing”.

Contemporary view looking east over the Western Hills Viaduct and the Camp Washington Rail Yard
Western Hills Viaduct, Looking east, Fall 2023
View of Western Hills Viaduct shortly after completion, looking west.
Western Hills Viaduct, looking west, Ca 1932

Designed in the art deco style, the structure is just as architecturally significant as Union Terminal itself, with matching aluminum fixtures and soaring arches. It was also designed to accommodate streetcars of the Cincinnati Street Railway Company. 

View of East arch from Spring Grove Avenue, Ca 1932
View looking north of east arch from Spring Grove Avenue, Ca 1932
View looking east showing the streetcar distributor under construction beneath the viaducts western terminus, Ca 1932
Streetcar distributor beneath the western terminus of Western Hills Viaduct, ca 1932

Contemporary view of Western Hills Viaduct arch span over the Mill Creek, looking east
View of Western Hills Viaduct arch span, Fall 2023
Abandoned streetcar garage and distributor beneath the western terminus of the Western Hills Viaduct, showing advanced signs of decay
Abandoned streetcar garage and distributor beneath the viaduct’s western terminus, Fall 2023

The century-old structure has been deemed structurally obsolete, and a replacement viaduct is on the horizon, a replacement without art deco features (unlike its predecessor.) 

View beneath the viaduct looking across the Camp Washington Rail Yard, showing advanced signs of decay, fall 2023.
View beneath the viaduct looking across the Camp Washington Rail Yard, Fall 2023
Abandoned streetcar garage and distributor beneath the western terminus of the Western Hills Viaduct, showing advanced signs of decay
Abandoned streetcar garage and distributor beneath the viaduct’s western terminus, Fall 2023

Artist rendering showing the replacement Western Hills Viaduct, designed in the modern style.
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1900sArt DecoBridgesInfrastructureStreetcar
By architecture, fall 2023, historic landmarks, local history, PH Wild