Months of lane closures on Hamilton bridge begin today

Hamilton’s Columbia Bridge, which conveys Pershing Avenue over the Great Miami River between Pyramid Hill and Neilan boulevards, will have lane closures from March 8 through October while crews work on the bridge. MIKE RUTLEDGE/STAFF

Hamilton’s Columbia Bridge, which conveys Pershing Avenue over the Great Miami River between Pyramid Hill and Neilan boulevards, will have lane closures from March 8 through October while crews work on the bridge. MIKE RUTLEDGE/STAFF

Hamilton’s Columbia Bridge, which conveys Pershing Avenue over the Great Miami River between Pyramid Hill and Neilan boulevards, will have lane closures in both directions beginning today, March 8, and continuing through October.

The closures will happen so crews can work on pavement, sidewalk and railing repairs, while also working on substructure below the bridge.

Two lanes will be open in each direction, except from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. During that period, traffic will be limited to one lane each way. Signs or arrow boards will alert drivers to the restrictions.

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The Ohio Department of Transportion is the lead agency and is funding all costs connected with the rehab work, including the engineering, said city Public Works Director Rich Engle.

Estimated cost of the work is $1.62 million, entirely funded by ODOT, Engle said.

“The Columbia Bridge Rehabilitation project includes repairing curb and sidewalk, patching spalled (flaking or otherwise deteriorating) concrete on the abutments, replacing damaged sections of railing and railing posts, repairing damaged conduit, replacing concrete overlay on the bridge deck, upgrading the crosswalks to meet ADA requirements, and repairing expansion joints,” Engle said.

After the bridge work is completed, LED (light emitting diode) street signs will be installed at Neilan Boulevard and Pershing Avenue and at New London Road and South B Street. There will also be intersection improvements at Neilan and Pershing Avenue, Engle said.

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