The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) crews are restoring southbound Interstate 471 in Ohio after a fire under the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge on Nov. 1 damaged it.
The fire spread from under the bridge to the overpass, severely damaging the southbound supporting girders, bridge deck and support structures, according to ODOT.
On Nov. 6, Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency in Hamilton County due to the dangerous conditions. The emergency declaration allows ODOT to use funding from the Federal Emergency Relief Program for immediate repairs and to reopen the highway as soon as safely possible.
No one was hurt in the fire — which burned the playground underneath the bridge — but investigators still have not shared a potential cause.
Since the fire, ODOT said it has worked with Great Lakes Construction on designing a repair project for the southbound I-471 bridge approach to the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge. Designers are working to determine how many materials will be needed for repairs, and how those materials will be installed. The work also includes determining how the damaged beams, highway surface and overhead sign will be safely removed.
ODOT said the first step is the installation of shoring towers, which resemble scaffolding and will support the damaged section of the highway during construction. Before the shoring towers can be installed, the contractor will need to lay footers for the foundations of the towers.
ODOT also reported seeing vehicles continuing to drive around closures and enter restricted areas near the approach. It reminded drivers that access to I-471 South and the area below the bridge on each side of the approach are closed until further notice.
Traffic is being diverted southbound by way of I-71 and I-75 South. ODOT encouraged heavy truck and semi-truck drivers to use I-275 to I-71/75 to avoid delays and said all HAZMAT operators are required to follow the I-275 outer belt.
Source: WLWT.com, Spectrumnews1.com
