Niles-McDonald to be reunited Aug. 1 with reopening of Olive Street bridge

By Ed Runyan | July 10, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

NILES

It’s been about six years since motorists were able to drive between Niles and McDonald using the Olive Street Bridge, but that shortcut will be back Aug. 1.

Trumbull County Engineer Randy Smith, McDonald Mayor Glenn Holmes, Niles Mayor Ralph Infante and Weathersfield Township Fiscal Officer David Rouan had a short news conference at the bridge Thursday to announce the reopening date.

The $4.9 million project funded 100 percent by federal and state grants started in April 2014 and now is getting finishing touches.

Youngstown company A.P. O’Horo built the bridge, which spans the Mahoning River and Norfolk and Southern Railroad. Niles is on the west side of the bridge, and the first 1,000 feet on the east side is in Weatherfield. Farther east is McDonald.

The project was a big commitment for McDonald because a sewer line that took McDonald sewage to the Niles waste-treatment plant was attached to the old bridge.

The village had to bore under the Mahoning River to re-establish the sewer line before the old bridge was demolished. The village paid about $370,000, and grants paid the rest of the $1.1 million.

Holmes said Smith encouraged him to have a celebration when the reopening occurs at 11 a.m. Aug. 1, so a parade, classic cars, a fun run that crosses the bridge and at least one marching band will perform for the event, the mayor said.

Among the key benefits of having the bridge back open is that it will re-establish some of the connections between McDonald and Niles, such as favorite places to visit in Niles from McDonald and vice versa.

McDonald and Niles also provide police and fire mutual aid to each other, which will be easier once police and fire vehicles are able to travel the distance more quickly, Holmes said. Backup-ambulance response times also will improve, he added.

“It puts the city of Niles and McDonald back together again,” Infante said. “It’s a real shortcut to the Eastwoood Mall for McDonald residents, and it’s a shortcut for Niles residents to get to Girard,” he said.

“It’s a real asset for everybody.”