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The State Route 219 bridge that runs over Beaver Creek in Montezuma will be shutdown starting the week of March 2 for about 90 days.
MONTEZUMA - A major state project necessitating the complete shutdown of the State Route 219 bridge over Beaver Creek in Montezuma for now nearly three months is expected to get underway early next month and run through late summer.
The Ohio Department of Transportation had committed to the bridge restoration in March 2021 and was targeting a project starting date - and 22-mile detour - in late spring or early summer of 2025.
Due to an adjustment in ODOT's scheduling process, the project was bumped back to 2026. Additionally, the project estimate has risen from $800,000 to $1.47 million owing to a combination of inflation and a later decision to add another component to the project.
Brumbaugh Construction of Darke County has been tapped as contractor and starting the week of March 2 will close the bridge for about 90 days, ODOT spokesperson Loryn Bryson said in an email to The Daily Standard. The original closure was pegged at 60 days.
"This project is starting early in the construction season due to constraints related to the waterway permit required for in-water work," Bryson said. "The contractor must have their temporary access (shoring) installed and removed from the water prior to April 15 in order to not hinder spawning season for a variety of fish species within this habitat."
News of the extended closure provoked some grumbles from Montezuma Village Councilman Derrick Springer at this week's regular meeting.
"They said it was only going to be closer to 60 days, and it would be 90 days if they shut down one side at a time," Springer vented.
The closure was revised to allow for flexibility, Bryson explained.
"If the contractor can complete the work in less time that would be great for all stakeholders," she said. "However, weather will be a factor in this work and it could cause delays which is why set the 90-day exception."
The work will be bankrolled with federal and state preservation funds.
The bridge was built in 1982. ODOT developed a project to address the deteriorating bridge in March 2021 and notified Montezuma officials March 25, 2022, according to Bryson.
During its last inspection on Aug. 2, 2022, the bridge received a general appraisal score of 5 on a scale of 0 to 9, with 9 being a "brand-new bridge," Bryson said.
"Any rating at 4 or lower is considered 'structurally deficient,'" Bryson said. "At ODOT, we don't want to wait until a bridge reaches a level of concern before we address it."
Once the project commences, crews will remove the existing bridge deck and beams and replace them with new components. Bryson said the piers and abutments will be reused and modified for the new bridge deck and beams.
"The scope remains the same, however this includes the 2023 decision to place encasements around the current piers to help extend the life of the overall structure," Bryson said.
The bridge will be closed for the duration of construction, a move intended to save money and greatly prolong the overall life of the structure.
The total closure is expected to shave at least $270,000 in construction expenses and closing both lanes will cut construction time by 45 days.
"Of course, time savings are dependent on the weather conditions during the project,"Bryson said. "The full closure allows us to construct a structure that extends the life of the bridge by 35 years."
Also, an updated traffic count showed an average of 3,652 vehicles per day traveling the route that goes over the bridge. Of that total, 122 are trucks, according to Bryson.
"State Route 219 is not classified as part of the National Highway System, which is a federal designation for roadways that are considered strategic for the nation's economy, defense and mobility," Bryson said. "When a full closure is implemented, a detour will be provided to maintain traffic for trucks and other travelers including interstate commerce."
The State Route 219 bridge that runs over Beaver Creek in Montezuma will be shutdown starting the week of March 2 for about 90 days. The official detour is 22 miles but ODOT expects local residents to utilize local roads.
The signed detour for the project will span roughly 22 miles from U.S. Route 127 south to State Route 274 east, to State Route 364 to State Route 219 west.
"It is anticipated that local residents and service providers will utilize local roads for a substantially shorter detour," Bryson said. "ODOT is required to post official detours of state routes along other state routes."
This detour is also intended for truck traffic to remain on state routes, she noted.
Montezuma Mayor Steve Fortman in 2023 said closing the bridge completely would increase response times for emergency medical services and law enforcement. He said the delays would be even longer if the official 22-mile detour is followed.
Responding to Fortman's fears of delayed emergency response during the work, Bryson said ODOT routinely deals with situations like this across the state and works with local first responders on ways to minimize challenges as much as possible. It will do the same for the Montezuma bridge project.
"While the official detour is indeed 22-miles, we know that many local residents and first responders will use local routes to get around the … closure," Bryson reiterated. "It's important to note that even a partial-closure would result in some delay for those using the bridge."
ODOT will continue to provide updates as the project unfolds.
"We understand that construction can be disruptive, and we appreciate the community's patience and understanding as we work to improve this bridge and extend the life of the structure," Bryson said. "We want to remind drivers to stay alert when navigating detours."
ODOT addressed several questions about the project in an online document.
Will the channel remain open for boat access during construction?
No. It will be necessary to de-water the channel under the bridge to allow for installation of the pier encasements.
Will the project adversely affect the floodplain?
Under the preferred alternative, the project will not reduce the existing hydraulic opening and will not result in a rise in the base flood elevation.
Will the pedestrian bridge be open during construction?
The pedestrian bridge will be open to pedestrian traffic for most of construction. Brief closures of the pedestrian bridge may be necessary during setting of the beams, to protect the public.
Will sidewalk be provided on the south side of the bridge?
No. ODOT did consider installation of sidewalk on the south side of the bridge. However, there is currently no sidewalk in the southeast quadrant to receive pedestrians crossing on the south side. Given the substantial increased costs and property impacts, ODOT has concluded that inclusion of walk on the south side of the bridge is not appropriate.
Will the project require instream work?
No. Under the preferred alternative, all bridge work will occur from overhead and no temporary or permanent fill will be required in Beaver Creek.
Will the project require tree removals?
The project may require limited tree removals to allow for construction access. If trees will be removed from private property, the property owners will be compensated as part of the property acquisition process.
Will property access/driveway configurations be affected?
The project will not alter any driveway configurations. Some minor driveway paving may be necessary due to work on the bridge approaches.
How will utilities be impacted by this project?
When will utility relocations occur? There are water line, gas line, and fiber-optic lines in the corridor that may be affected by the project, as well as traffic monitoring facilities. All utility impacts will be coordinated with the utility owners prior to the start of construction.
Will the project require acquisition from the adjacent park or restrict access to the park?
No. The project will not require right-of-way from the park and access to the park will be maintained during construction. As noted above, the pedestrian bridge will remain accessible to local residents that wish to walk to the park.
Will the bridge be raised for better boat access?
No, the project will not result in any significant increase in under bridge clearance. Such an improvement would substantially increase the project costs and impacts. However, the project will not further reduce the current clearance under the bridge.
