ODOT speeds up timeline for Blaine Hill Bridge rehab challenge because of complex deterioration, transferring building up from 2027 to 2025. The historical bridge will go through upkeep with complex fabrics to increase lifespan. Protection considerations precipitated closure in August 2024.
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Inspectors have noticed deterioration in 3 of the pier caps, a vital part that connects the bridge piers to the beams supporting the bridge deck. If a pier fails, the bridge deck and superstructure might grow to be at risk of cave in.
A big rehabilitation challenge at the Blaine Hill Arches of Reminiscence Bridge will now get started in only some months. Since last the bridge to visitors in August officers of the Ohio Division of Transportation (ODOT) have labored to seek out techniques to boost up the timeline for the challenge.
“We know the way necessary this bridge is to the neighborhood. Our function has all the time been to reopen the bridge as briefly as imaginable. Our group has labored tirelessly to discover a higher answer and we’re excited to proportion this replace with the neighborhood,” mentioned Pamela Boratyn, ODOT director.
At first slated to visit building in 2027, a contractor will now be employed in April with building set to start out early this summer season. Below the speeded up challenge time table, the bridge will reopen to visitors in the summertime of 2026.
“I’ve labored diligently on behalf of Belmont County citizens to make sure the Blaine Hill Bridge shall be re-opened as briefly and safely as imaginable. I am happy that via our efforts we’ve got moved up the timeline to start out paintings from 2027 to 2025,” mentioned Rep. Ron Ferguson.
In January, ODOT introduced that the challenge can be offered in November with building to start out in early 2026 as a substitute of 2027.
“I’m thankful for the Ohio Division of Transportation and District 11 figuring out citizens’ considerations to boost up this challenge with out compromising protection and high quality paintings all whilst conserving the bridge’s historical landmark standing. It is important to give a boost to our state’s infrastructure to make Ohioans’ commutes protected and environment friendly with out neglecting protection,” mentioned Sen. Brian Chavez.
Design paintings has been underneath approach for a number of months, and the ones efforts will proceed as ODOT works to deliver on a contractor and start upkeep at the historical construction. The challenge paintings comprises doing away with the present deck; changing 400 field beams and the ornamental concrete railing at the bridge; and making upkeep to the improve columns.
Conserving the 1932 bridge’s ancient price whilst modernizing its serve as is significant to the challenge. The challenge will combine sturdy fabrics reminiscent of complex concrete sealants and resilient design components that reach the bridge’s lifespan and offer protection to its architectural integrity. Those choices will align with broader regional objectives of keeping up necessary infrastructure whilst respecting historical preservation.
How We Were given Right here
Federal rules require each bridge to be inspected a minimum of as soon as each two years. In Ohio, many bridges are inspected yearly. Beginning in 2023, ODOT started analyzing the Blaine Hill Bridge each 3 months. Remaining yr, the ones inspections ramped as much as as soon as per thirty days for the reason that bridge used to be deteriorating a lot quicker than is conventional.
In July 2024, bridge visitors used to be lowered to a unmarried eastbound lane as further deterioration used to be noticed throughout an inspection. On Aug. 5, 2024, ODOT protection mavens made the verdict to totally shut the bridge. Persisted deterioration of the concrete and the protection of the touring public had been the worries that resulted in the closure.
The bridge used to be inspected once more on Jan. 23, 2025. The inspection confirmed the situation of a number of vital parts had deteriorated additional since August, in spite of the bridge being closed to visitors. The findings showed that the bridge can’t be reopened to even a unmarried lane of visitors.
Severity of Bridge Situation
ODOT bridge engineers from New Philadelphia and Columbus have endured to carefully track the situation of the bridge. Of specific fear is that giant sections of concrete are chipping, flaking, or peeling off in a couple of places. This will compromise the structural integrity of the bridge, making it much less ready to improve the lots it used to be designed for. It additionally creates openings permitting water to penetrate deeper into the construction that may boost up deterioration, particularly throughout the iciness when the water can freeze and amplify, inflicting extra cracks and spalling.
Moreover, a number of key structural parts are failing. Inspectors have noticed crumbling at the field beams, a structural part that distributes pressure around the bridge construction. If one field beam fails, it compromises the bridge’s structural integrity, probably resulting in partial or complete cave in. There are a number of field beams in deficient situation at the Blaine Hill Bridge.
Inspectors even have noticed deterioration in 3 of the pier caps, a vital part that connects the bridge piers to the beams supporting the bridge deck. If a pier fails, the bridge deck and superstructure might grow to be at risk of cave in. That is particularly unhealthy if failure happens or underneath the burden of heavy lots.
“Concrete spalling and crumbling bridge beams and pier caps aren’t minor defects. Each and every time we put weight at the bridge, we’re including pressure that makes the present issues worse,” mentioned Tom Corey, ODOT District 11 deputy director. “Permitting visitors again at the bridge would possibility a cave in that would take lives and result in a for much longer closure of this vital neighborhood connection. That is why accelerating the timeline much more for the rehabilitation challenge used to be so necessary to our group.”
ODOT will supply widespread updates at the challenge because the challenge is offered and building starts. Updates shall be posted to the challenge web page and emailed to subscribers. ODOT may be on the lookout for public places in the neighborhood keen to print and submit updates for individuals who shouldn’t have get entry to to computer systems or digital variations.
