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Residents urge delay as ODOT plans $4.1 million demolition of Maumee River bridge; citizen offers lease option
Summary
A local citizens group and council members discussed ODOT's plan to demolish a bridge on the Maumee River for an estimated $4.1 million, and a resident proposed the city lease the bridge to preserve it while questions about liability and timeline are pursued.
A local citizens group told Waterville city council that the Ohio Department of Transportation plans to demolish a Maumee River bridge, and asked the city to request more time or accept a lease to preserve the structure.
Resident Dave Weber, speaking for a grassroots group that has met with ODOT and the State Historic Preservation Office, said ODOT plans to spend about $4,100,000 to demolish the bridge and “totally demo the bridge behind me here, right down to the bedrock.” Weber said ODOT’s plan would construct temporary causeways on each side, remove the concrete spans, then remove the gravel, a work sequence he described as the basis for the cost estimate.
Weber said ODOT will advertise for bids beginning April 10 and that the agency indicated it would begin work in June; he urged the council to act quickly because sealed bids will be requested on April 10. Weber said ODOT told the group that if an entity steps forward, the agency would be willing to hand over the bridge rather than proceed with demolition. He said a prior citizen had offered $6,000 to assume the structure, and offered to lease it to the city for a nominal amount: “I will personally pay you the $12 a year, to, to lease this, bridge,” Weber said.
Weber proposed leasing the bridge month-to-month to buy time while the citizens’ group pursues alternatives, adding that signage, barriers and routing guidance could reduce liability for river users. He suggested signage to direct kayakers under an alternate arch and to warn of unsafe areas for wading or climbing.
Council members asked practical questions about costs and long-term liability. One councilor asked whether a future demolition obligation would become the city’s responsibility if the city accepted a lease; Weber said he did not know and urged the city to pursue that question with ODOT. Council members noted that the law director had not yet drafted a lease and said the city would ask the law director to examine the legal and liability implications. Vice Mayor Mary Duncan and Council member John Rosick acknowledged the citizen group’s efforts and urged staff follow-up.
No formal city action was taken at the meeting. Weber said the citizens’ group would meet again and asked the council to consider sending a letter to ODOT quickly to request more time or express interest in a transfer or lease. Council members said staff would work with the law director and other officials to gather more information on liability, insurance costs and any conditions tied to federal funding.
Weber’s remarks and council questions highlight a narrow timeline: ODOT’s planned bid advertisement on April 10 and a stated intention to start work in June, according to the citizen group’s account. The city did not adopt a position at the meeting; council members said they would examine lease options and liability questions and follow up with ODOT and the group.
