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Road and Bridge closes two county bridges after inspections find critical steel deterioration
Summary
Miami County Road and Bridge closed two county bridges April 1 inspections found critical steel deterioration and compromised abutments that made the structures unsafe for traffic.
Matt Oler, Miami County project manager for Road and Bridge, told commissioners on April 16 that structural inspections conducted April 1 found critical steel section loss on two bridges, prompting immediate closures.
The first bridge, identified as Bridge 9-G-0.1 on 330 Fifth Street east of Plum Creek Road, showed severe section loss in longitudinal stringers and failure at connections from floor beams to the through girder. Oler said the inspection found three of five floor beams at those connections were in failure and that “this outside beam is considered to be failure because it is no longer picking up load path.” He described visible section loss and pack rust and said the superstructure was the limiting factor.
The second structure, 21-D-0.1 on 230 Ninth Street east of Indianapolis Road, sits on old masonry abutments that are cracking and slipping. Oler said five of nine beams on that structure have holes in the webs at the abutment bearing points; the condition and the slipping masonry led to closure. He said structure 21-D-0.1 was already scheduled for replacement and would be brought back to the commission with replacement options.
Oler said the county provided advance public notice, posted signs at affected intersections, and notified emergency responders and school transportation. He said the inspections are on a 24-month cycle and that the April inspection revealed the conditions prompting closure.
When commissioners asked what factors are considered before permanently closing a bridge, Oler said the main considerations are detour impacts (including emergency response times), economic and development impacts, and the type of traffic the bridge serves (collector vs. local vs. agricultural equipment). For one of the bridges, Oler said he will provide several replacement options and the commission can consider permanent closure versus replacement.
No final decision on permanent replacement was made at the meeting; both bridges remain closed pending the county’s next steps.
