Starting October 9, those who travel the Ironton-Russell bridge in the daytime will need to find an alternative route.

Tuesday, October 02, 2001

Starting October 9, those who travel the Ironton-Russell bridge in the daytime will need to find an alternative route.

Ohio Department of Transportation District 9 Deputy Director John Hagen said yesterday the bridge will be closed from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on weekdays for a period not to exceed 30 days.

The bridge will be closed in conjunction with the retrofit project in an effort to add reinforcement supports along the bridge’s joints.

"This project is necessary to assure the continued safety of the bridge to motorists," District 9 Traffic Engineer Greg Baird said. He added, "this is one of several measures that we are taking to maintain the bridge so that it will remain open and in operation at its current capacity while we work to build a new bridge between the two communities."

ODOT said in order for the retrofit project to be completed, a full closure of the bridge during the daytime is necessary so the contractor can place equipment and maneuver crews at the highest point along the bridge’s truss.

The bridge will remain open to traffic when crews are not working on the affected joints or piers. Weekend, evening and overnight closure of the bridge isn’t in the plans, but ODOT advises weekend closures could be a factor depending on the weather and equipment scheduling.

Tri-State Steel Construction Inc. of Strongsville was awarded the $399,550 contract for the construction work.

ODOT plans to have the entire retrofit project completed on November 15.