Public Meeting on the Replacement of the Marengo Street Bridge over the Ravine to Delaware Creek

There will be a public meeting on the replacement of the Marengo Street Bridge over the Ravine to Delaware Creek (LUC-Marengo St. Bridge, PID 103758), 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Monday, April 22 at Holy Trinity Church, 1825 Glendale Ave.

The purpose of this public meeting is to present updated alternatives and discuss the currently proposed bridge project with the public, residents, business owners, and public officials, and to solicit public comments regarding the social, economic, and environmental impacts.

The project was initiated by the city of Toledo along with the Ohio Department of Transportation, District 2 to improve the bridge across the Ravine to Delaware Creek since it is essential to the city of Toledo in Lucas County, Ohio. The existing bridge is a three-span, riveted steel deck truss bridge that was originally built in 1915. The bridge was rehabilitated with replacement decks in 1944, 1956, and 1973. Lead paint was removed and the existing structural steel was primed in 2003. In 2003, design plans were prepared for the rehabilitation of the structure, but construction bids in 2004 were much higher than expected, and insufficient funding led to cancellation of the project.

In 2005, existing wood plank sidewalks with decorative steel railing were removed and replaced with guardrail after a tree fell and damaged the north walk. On April 15, 2016 the bridge was closed to traffic due to its deteriorated condition. In March 2018, a feasibility study was conducted, which determined that rehabilitation of the existing bridge was no longer feasible due to its advanced state of deterioration and new bridge loading requirements. The study found that replacement of the existing bridge with a culvert type bridge and construction of roadway embankment was the most feasible alternative.

The bridge is eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its removal will be mitigated as required and approved by historic preservation agencies. Details of the mitigation are still being determined. One idea is a plaque representing the old bridge placed on or near the new structure. The city is open to ideas.

Construction is scheduled to begin in Summer 2020 and the anticipated construction cost is approximately $1.9 million.

The public meeting will include a formal presentation. Representatives from the city, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and DLZ Ohio, Inc. will be available to discuss the proposed improvement, new alternatives, and answer questions. All are invited to attend and provide comments regarding the proposed project. Comments may be submitted during the meeting. Written comments may also be submitted by May 22 to:

Kristin Cousino, PE
Division of Streets, Bridges, and Harbor
City of Toledo
1189 West Central Ave.
Toledo, Ohio 43610

For more information contact: Kristin Cousino, PE, Kristin.Cousino@Toledo.Ohio.gov, 419-245-1587.

Individuals who require interpretation services or a reasonable accommodation to participate in this meeting should contact Kristin Cousino. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.