The group is seeking $2.2 million in funding, according to Eric Smith, Englewood city manager.
“The MVRPC is the agency responsible for allocating regional money originating from the Ohio Department of Transportation, which comes from (the federal government),” Smith said.
The proposed bridge would have a span of approximately 260 feet and would go on land owned by the conservancy district and leased to Five Rivers MetroParks.
If the funding can be secured for the bridge and the environmental reviews and permit requirements are completed, then the bridge will connect the east side of Englewood MetroPark - which is divided by the river - to the west side.
“Another thing it will do is complete a bikeway loop that exists,” said Carrie Scarff, deputy director of Five Rivers MetroParks. “Currently a walking path and a bikeway comes along the face of the dam and this will allow for that loop to be completed and then back across the Stillwater River, a little further to the north in the park.”
Pedestrians could also use the bridge, which Smith said could be sturdy enough for emergency vehicles.
“There is no bridge there presently, the original covered bridge was demolished about 1941,” Smith said.
The bridge was destroyed because rotten wood made it unsafe, according to an old newspaper clipping that was attached to a Request for Proposal letter dated Aug. 11 to J.A. Barker Engineering, Inc. in Bloomington, Ind.
“For flood control, the Miami Conservancy District built the Englewood Dam. So, route 40 was re-routed over the Englewood Dam,” Scarff said. “The bridge that the city of Englewood is proposing would go right where old 40 used to go.”
“The covered bridge concept has been bounced around for approximately 10 years when the Old National Road gained historic significance.” Smith said.
Flooding is a concern for this type of project because the proposed site is within the Englewood Retarding Basin, which is the land upstream of the dam preserved for temporary flood storage, according to Kurt Rinehart, conservancy district engineer.
“The retarding basins at the MCD dams are critical parts of our regional flood protection system,” Rinehart said. “A project like the proposed covered bridge must be carefully designed to withstand flooding and also so it does not take away flood storage volume.”
Another reason why the proposed bridge could be an asset to the park is due to the fact that Englewood MetroPark is one of the park system’s most utilized parks, according to Scarff. “To maximize the experience there for walkers and cyclists would be great,” she said.
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