West Park Ave. bridge work will start in January

MINERAL RIDGE — Trumbull County Engineers have informed the Weathersfield Township trustees work to tear down the West Park Ave. bridge will begin in January.

Trustees were told it is easier to tear down the bridge in inclement weather, setting the stage to rebuild the span when the weather improves.

Trustee John Vogel said the township bears no cost for demolition or reconstruction of the bridge and said the county has been doing preliminary engineering on the project.

Work to clear land and redirect power lines is complete.

The bridge spans West Park Avenue over the Mahoning River west of Waddell Park.

Since the West Park Fire Station No. 42 is west of the bridge, the township fire department is making arrangements to have a truck with a dedicated independent staff parked at RMI Titanium to service calls in the DeForest Road and Heaton Chute area.

West Park station will service Warren-Austintown Road and West Park Road into Brunstetter.

Mineral Ridge Fire Station on State Route 46 will also be picking up calls, since part of the staff from West Park will be based at the Mineral Ridge Station.

Trustees John Vogle said: “Our concern is to provide for the safety needs to provide fire protection on each side of the bridge.”