Highland-134 will remain closed north of Buford; Culvert replacement project on tap this summer
Lead Summary
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Following a culvert collapse on state Route 134 in Highland County, it has been determined that the route will remain closed until a construction project to replace the structure is completed this summer.
“Upon a thorough investigation and review of the situation, we have determined to keep the route closed until such time that the culvert replacement project can be completed,” said ODOT District 9 Deputy Director James Brushart. “Safety is our priority, and keeping the route closed is in the best interest of the traveling public.”
The route was closed Saturday, May 22, at the 8.39-mile marker, between S.R. 131 and S.R. 286 north of Buford, after flash flooding caused the culvert, which measures 72 inches in diameter and 95 feet long, to collapse.
Officials from the Ohio Department of Transportation – District 9’s planning, production and highway management departments have conducted field studies of the culvert and surface pavement to ascertain the extent of damage incurred by the flooding. In part, their investigations found some of the wooden cribbing within the structure to be fractured and the pavement to be undermined.
“Our hydraulics, bridge and roadway engineers have also found substantial voids between both the structure and the pavement, and it appears that both continue to settle,” added Brushart.
However, an upcoming construction project to replace the culvert had already been programmed for sale this year, and although a contract has yet to be officially awarded and a start date established, bid letting was held Thursday, May 27.
As part of the plans for this project plans, the route would be closed during construction and traffic would be detoured via state routes 131 and 138. Since the route was closed last weekend, this detour is already in place, and motorists are reminded that crossing any closed route is prohibited.
The scheduled completion date for construction is September 15, 2010.[[In-content Ad]]
“Upon a thorough investigation and review of the situation, we have determined to keep the route closed until such time that the culvert replacement project can be completed,” said ODOT District 9 Deputy Director James Brushart. “Safety is our priority, and keeping the route closed is in the best interest of the traveling public.”
The route was closed Saturday, May 22, at the 8.39-mile marker, between S.R. 131 and S.R. 286 north of Buford, after flash flooding caused the culvert, which measures 72 inches in diameter and 95 feet long, to collapse.
Officials from the Ohio Department of Transportation – District 9’s planning, production and highway management departments have conducted field studies of the culvert and surface pavement to ascertain the extent of damage incurred by the flooding. In part, their investigations found some of the wooden cribbing within the structure to be fractured and the pavement to be undermined.
“Our hydraulics, bridge and roadway engineers have also found substantial voids between both the structure and the pavement, and it appears that both continue to settle,” added Brushart.
However, an upcoming construction project to replace the culvert had already been programmed for sale this year, and although a contract has yet to be officially awarded and a start date established, bid letting was held Thursday, May 27.
As part of the plans for this project plans, the route would be closed during construction and traffic would be detoured via state routes 131 and 138. Since the route was closed last weekend, this detour is already in place, and motorists are reminded that crossing any closed route is prohibited.
The scheduled completion date for construction is September 15, 2010.[[In-content Ad]]