Update on London bridge projects

(by Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor - September 26, 2012)

Two bridge projects are in the works for the city of London. One is a total replace-ment; the other involves improvements to prevent flooding.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) inspected and deemed the bridge on Toland Street to be beyond repair. The bridge sits near the baseball park. The city has contracted with DLZ, a firm from the Columbus area, to perform the engineering work. Construction should start next year.

The cost of the engineering is $100,000. The cost of construction is estimated to be $500,000 to $600,000. ODOT’s Small Cities program will cover 80 percent of the construction cost. The city is responsible for the remainder of the construction cost and all of the engineering cost. The city plans to use municipal permissive funds it receives from the state to cover its share of the project expense, said Steve Hume, London’s safety-service director.

The bridge due for improvements is located on Oak Street near the Creamery Building. The west side of the street has just one small opening for storm water drainage from High Street and Old Springfield Road into the Glade Run Ditch. When debris clogs the opening, water backs up over the curb on Oak Street and washes out the sidewalk.

The fix, Hume said, is to install catch basins on either side of the bridge to ease the flow of water into Glade Run. The city appropriated $25,000 for the project, however, estimates are coming in $9,000 over that amount due to the need for new wing walls to prevent erosion in the area. Hume said the public service committee is recommending that council appropriate the additional $9,000 for the project. In the meantime, he said, he is looking for other less expensive solutions to the problem.

Flooding on McLene
The city has a problem with flooding on McLene Avenue. Engineering to install a new catch basin and tube system has been complete for two years. Originally, the city planned to do the construction work in-house through the street department.

“We’re short-staffed and, because it’s been a dry year, the department has been busy with other cement projects this year,” Hume said.

To prevent further delays, the public service committee is recommending that the city pay an outside company to complete the job. The estimated cost is $8,000.

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