Since the November 1 fire that severely damaged the southbound approach to the I-471/Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has been leading a restoration effort that has benefited from the combined efforts of dozens of businesses and hundreds of individuals. The installation of foundational components for new shoring towers, which are essential in supporting the bridge’s compromised structure before demolition operations can begin, is moving forward, according to recent updates from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), in partnership with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and the city of Cincinnati.
Construction workers are hard at work on the footer forms. Concrete must cure for at least 72 hours before pouring can start on Friday. The shoring towers are anticipated to rise this next week, and this must come before the more accurate, “surgical” dismantling of the damaged areas. A crucial phase in this high-stakes reconstruction process, the demolition is scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving and is guided by comprehensive engineering drawings that ODOT representatives have provided.
In addition to the bridge deck tasks, inspections have shown additional deterioration. As part of the bridge’s rehabilitation, a 60-foot section of the northbound concrete wall along piers beneath the southbound approach will need to be repaired. However, despite the overall delays, these renovations won’t compromise the bridge’s structural integrity, which is a huge relief. These repairs are being coordinated with KYTC by ODOT and Great Lakes Construction, who are scheduling them to coincide with the overall demolition plan.
The reconstruction schedule is still being developed and is dependent on the crucial acquisition of steel for the replacement of the girders. After contacting several steel fabricators to find one that might speed up production, ODOT is getting closer to completing a schedule, the agency said. ODOT will provide the public with an estimated completion date for the repair project as soon as steel availability is more certain. Traffic has been rerouted in the interim, with detours set up along I-71 and I-75 South and southbound I-471 closed. I-471 North now has a single-lane restriction, which is a sign of ongoing work and the requirement for constant, flexible traffic control.
Updates on bridge restoration are still available from ODOT on its special webpage, I-471 Bridge Fire.For anyone traveling through the areas affected by the work in Ohio and Kentucky, respectively, real-time traffic information is available via OHGO and GoKY.
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