11/19/2019
Calling all kayakers to join us tomorrow (Wednesday) night for this important discussion.
ODOT To Present Nine Options To Improve Iconic Bridge’s Safety
By Karen Gerhardinger / The Mirror Newspaper
Soon after word got out that the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) was researching options for the deteriorating Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge, a “Save the Bridge” message quickly spread on social media and in e-mails to ODOT.
On Wednesday, November 20 at 5:00 p.m., the doors will open to Waterville Primary School for a public meeting about the nine options researched by ODOT and partners. A presentation at 5:15 p.m. will provide the details on each option, ranging from full rehabilitation of the bridge to removal – and several variations in between.
“This is a starting point. That’s why we want everyone to come to the presentation at 5:15 p.m., not just the open house afterward. We’ll go through all of the options during the presentation. We really want people to come and give us feedback and ideas,” said Stacy Schimmoeller, ODOT District 2 environmental coordinator.
ODOT began researching options for the bridge after receiving an October 2017 letter from Waterville’s previous administrator, Jim Bagdonas. In the letter, Bagdonas explained that a council member had heard from concerned residents about the chunks of concrete falling from the historic bridge. In the two years since, ODOT has gathered every detail possible on the bridge, its surrounding environment and the possible impacts of the safety options.
The earth-filled structure, built in 1908, originally carried an interurban trolley line. Waterville Historical Society historians Verna and John Rose explained that the National Bridge Company of Indianapolis built the 1,220-foot long Roman aqueduct design with 12 dirt-filled arches of 70 to 90 feet in length.
“The company promised that they would not damage or destroy the rock known as Roche de Boeuf, sacred to the Native Americans. As the bridge was being built, it was apparent that the rock was damaged. In fact, almost one-third of the rock was blown away to create support for one of the bridge piers. The people were up and arms, but what could they do? The deed was done,” the Roses wrote on the Waterville Historical Society’s website.
The island was an important way-finding point and meeting place for Native Americans and early settlers, the Roses explained. In 1972, the bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Over the years since it closed, the bridge was a non-sanctioned gathering spot for late-night parties as well as a focal point for artists, photographers, kayakers and tubers.
It’s the safety of those boating or walking under the bridge that prompted ODOT to investigate every aspect of the bridge and look at all the options, said ODOT public information officer Rebecca Dangelo. While ODOT has received comments through social media and the website, the meeting is the best opportunity for the public to learn details of each proposal and to ask questions of Schimmoeller, bridge engineer David Geckle and Scot Morehouse of DGL Consulting Engineers.
Although ODOT has dealt with historic bridges before, the Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge is different. The bridge isn’t owned by ODOT, but rather by the state. The structure isn’t even considered a bridge because it’s not open to vehicular or pedestrian traffic. Add to that the community’s love of the bridge and the history, and the approach to this project is entirely different, Dangelo said.
Unlike most bridge and road projects, ODOT doesn’t have a preferred option from the nine that will be presented, Schimmoeller said. The final solution will depend on what the community wants, and can afford.
“That’s why we want people for the presentation. We want to see if people have other ideas we haven’t thought of,” Schimmoeller said. “Everything is at a starting point. We want a lot of collaboration and negotiation on where to go.”
Each of the options comes with a cost. One of the goals of the public meeting is finding partners and funding sources, Schimmoeller said.
“Locally, we understand the history of and importance to the community of this bridge, so we really need partnership and funding,” she said. “Come to the meeting. Listen to all the options. We have seating for 300, and I hope it will be full.”
The meeting takes place on Wednesday, November 20 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Waterville Primary School, 457 Sycamore Lane.
To review the documents and maps collected about the bridge so far, or to leave comments, visit http://www.dot.state.oh.us/districts/D02/Pages/Roche-De-Boeuf-Interurban.aspx.
(Photo courtesy of Art Weber/Metroparks Toledo
