ODOT office seeks Niles-Vienna bridge replacement

VIENNA — The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Akron office wants emergency approval to allow demolition and reconstruction of damaged portions of the Niles-Vienna Road bridge over state Route 11 to begin immediately.

Pat Kennard, spokeswoman for the Akron office, said it is unknown when the approval from ODOT Director James G. Beasley will be granted or how long the repair will take.

She estimated the repair cost at around $250,000. The time frame is still “indefinite,” she said Wednesday afternoon.

The bridge is currently slated for replacement in 2014.

Until the bridge is fixed, the southbound lanes of the heavily traveled Route 11 will be closed between state Route 82 and Tibbetts-Wick Road.

For more, see Thursday’s Vindicator and vindy.com