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Gahanna seeks emergency waiver to replace two pedestrian bridge decks on Big Walnut Trail
Summary
Parks staff told council the decking on two pedestrian bridges shows full-depth rot and mold; due to the emergency safety risk the administration requested a waiver of competitive bidding to contract replacement work with quotes from three vendors.
The director of Parks and Recreation told council on Nov. 10 that two pedestrian bridges on the Big Walnut Trail (near Stony Brook Church) have decking with significant rot and mold and require full replacement for safety reasons.
"The planks of the bridge are showing significant signs of rot and mold growth. In some cases, there's full depth rot," the director said, explaining that patch repairs had been made but a full deck replacement is needed to remedy the safety risk. The administration requested authorization to waive the bidding process because of the emergency safety need and said it had solicited quotes from three vendors and expected a contract to be in counsel next Monday.
Councilmembers asked about the bridge age (a ribbon‑cutting in 2018), material choices for replacement and anticipated closure/communication plans. The parks director said the decking used a water‑based preservative that is failing and the replacement would use a different timber and preservative; staff committed to communicating closures and impacts to nearby users and parents who use the lot adjacent to Stony Brook.
What happens next: the administration requested waiver and will bring the related contract/ordinance to the regular agenda for council action next week.
