Harner Road in Van Wert County, Ohio

According to ODOT’s environmental document, the previous bridge was structurally deficient, posted with a load limit of 21 tons, and had a general appraisal of 4 and a sufficiency rating of 19.9. It was 58 years old. Additionally, the bridge was designed for what is considered today as an outdated loading of only CF30 (GVW 10 tons). Based on the documented need to replace the bridge, Van Wert County received federal funds to move forward using the traditional 80 fed/20 local split. Reimbursed costs included the design of the prefabricated steel superstructure, which is usually not eligible because it is normally part of an engineering contract, but in this case, since it is part of the construction pay item, it is. This kind of design/build/fabricate pay item actually saves some expense for the County.

The new bridge span is longer than the earlier span increasing from 130 ft. to 150 ft. and improving the conveyance of the waterway opening. The single span also keeps woody debris from accumulating on piers in the river that would be needed for a below-deck beam bridge at this length. Also improving the hydraulic opening was the raising of the low-chord elevation from 792.2’ to 794.5’ by taking advantage of shallower members and raising the profile because of pavement build-up. With regard to width of the new bridge, it was increased from 20 ft. to 28 ft., along with an upgraded, safer railing system utilizing twin steel tubes. These improvements allow for safer two-way travel and provide more width for larger ‘farm-to-market’ agricultural vehicles.