Route 11 bridge project planned

By Elise Franco

An estimated $3.7 million resurfacing project is set to begin on the highway bridge in 2010.

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Transportation has announced a bridge-resurfacing project for state Route 11.

The estimated $3.7 million effort will include minor bridge rehabilitation to the twin bridges on state Route 11 over Indian Run near the Canfield-Boardman exit onto state Route 224, said Justin Chesnic, public information specialist for ODOT.

“The main thing will be re-decking the bridge,” he said. “We’re going to remove the deck and put new concrete in so it’ll be a smoother driving surface.”

Chesnic said minor structural repairs and painting will also be done.

He said construction will begin in spring 2010, but a start date won’t be set until the state takes bids from construction companies.

“The project will be bid on by contractors and awarded to the lowest,” Chesnic said. “Once the contract is signed, we’ll have a pre-construction meeting and then they’ll get started.”

He said traffic patterns will be altered slightly, but motorists won’t feel a huge impact.

“Essentially we’ll still have state Route 11 open, but you’ll have a very small stretch where it’ll be one lane in each direction,” Chesnic said.

“It might be a little bit slower, but once people get out there and see it, after that first week or so, people know what to expect and they get right through there.”

He said the project is necessary for upkeep of the bridge and will be completed by the fall of 2010.

“We look at all the bridges and rate them across the district,” Chesnic said. “Ones that need work and are in worse shape move to the top of the list, and this is one that needs a new deck.”

Refurbishing projects were completed this year for two state Route 11 bridges in Austintown.