Structural issues force closure of Olive Street Bridge

STAFF REPORT

WEATHERSFIELD — The Trumbull County Engineer’s Office has closed indefinitely the Olive Street Bridge, a major link between the village of McDonald and the city of Niles, because of ongoing structural issues.

David Rouan, director of administration and governmental affairs for county Engineer David DeChristofaro, said the department closed the bridge Friday afternoon after an inspection done by MS Consultants of Youngstown showed problems with the bridge.

Specifically, a number of the steel “strands,” or cables have snapped and separated from the concrete, Rouan said.

The bridge was closed last year for a couple of months then reopened later with lane and weight restrictions after inspectors noted problems at that time, Rouan said.

Engineers noted that semi and other trucks were still using the bridge even after the weight limit was reduced to 3 tons. At that weight, only cars and pickup trucks were permitted to use the bridge, Rouan said.

The bridge is about 1,000 feet long and spans the Mahoning River. It is the second-longest bridge in the county system and is heavily used by McDonald residents to travel between Niles and McDonald, Rouan said.

The department has secured funding to pay for about half of the $4 million needed to replace the bridge, Rouan said.

A more detailed analysis will be done on the bridge, but it will remain closed until further notice, Rouan said.

The recommended detours involve use of Second Street, Salt Springs Road, state Route 46 and Summit Street.

McDonald Mayor Glen Holmes said the bridge’s closing will have a negative effect on businesses in the village and will be an inconvenience to McDonald residents, who travel that way to the Macali’s Giant Eagle and Eastwood Mall, both in Niles.