Apple Creek's Bank Street bridge to be replaced

A steel truss bridge dating to the 1920s on Bank Street in Apple Creek will be replaced with a modern composite prestressed concrete box-beam bridge designed by the Wayne County Engineer’s Office.

The project will remove the aging steel truss structure and replace it with a modern bridge designed to meet current engineering standards and accommodate modern traffic loads.

While the bridge has served the community for decades, bridge engineer Eric Liew of the Wayne County Engineer’s Office said it no longer meets modern structural standards and carries weight restrictions that limit the types of vehicles that can safely cross it.

According to Liew, bridge inspections use a rating system from zero to nine, with nine representing a new bridge. The existing structure is rated close to a three, indicating significant deterioration and the need for replacement.

“One of the primary concerns with older truss bridges is their structural design," Liew said. "Traditional truss bridges rely on two main steel truss members to support the live load. If one of those members fails, the entire structure can be compromised. New box-beam structures are constructed with multiple beams carrying the load, reducing the risk of total structural failure."

Because the existing truss bridge is considered historic, the engineer's office must carefully dismantle and label its components before transporting them to a Rails to Trails Wayne County storage facility, where they may be reused in the future as a hike-and-bike trail bridge.

The new bridge will be 30 feet wide and includes 5-foot bike lanes on both sides to meet the statewide Ohio to Erie Trail and nationwide Heartland Trail standards. The new bridge will also provide improved safety, increased live load capacity and modern design standards while maintaining reliable travel for residents, school transportation and emergency vehicles.

The Wayne County Commissioners awarded the project to McConnell Contracting Inc. of West Lafayette for $805,000. The project is entirely federally funded. Construction is expected to take approximately 120 days, with work beginning in late July or early August.

Dan Starcher is the communications coordinator for Wayne County.