Kettering replacing second bridge

Work is expected to begin by summer on the Ghent Avenue bridge.

Another bridge in Kettering is so deteriorated that it will need to be replaced later this year, according to assistant city manager Steve Bergstresser.

The bridge, located on Ghent Avenue between Purdue Road and Galewood Street has been on the city’s radar for at least five years when it started to show advanced deterioration during the city’s annual bridge inspection.

The replacement of the Ghent Avenue bridge would be the second bridge replacement for Kettering. The city will begin a $1.4 million replacement of the Stroop Road bridge in July.

“Probably the last four or five years, it’s started to deteriorate quicker. The concrete supports in the middle of the creek were starting to show advance deterioration. Through the inspections it was recommended that we start planning for replacement of it.”

The total cost of the project is around $600,000, with Kettering contributing $400,000. The remaining funds will come from a $200,000 grant from Ohio Public Works Commission. Bergstresser said the city had been trying for over two years to get grant money to help fund the 34-foot bridge’s replacement.

Montgomery County Environmental Services will replace the water main under the bridge during the replacement project.

The city will send the project out to bid in March or April with construction possibly beginning in May or June.

“It’s not a terribly huge project so it should have no problem getting done this construction season. It should be back open to traffic by the end of the year.”

Currently the bridge is safe to carry traffic and unlike the Stroop Road bridge, will not have traffic diverted or altered prior to its construction.

“The bridge carries easily less than 500 cars a day,” said Bergstresser. “It doesn’t carry nearly the traffic volume that Stroop does. While they’re both deteriorating, it’s kind of an apples-oranges situation.”

Since the bridge will be completely demolished, the city will have to create detours for residents travelling through the neighborhood and will primarily effect residents living near the four corners of the bridge.

“We’ll notify the residents and work very closely with them and make sure their needs are addressed,” said Bergstresser.

Melissa Evans, one of the four homes closest to the bridge, said she normally uses the bridge as her main route, but that construction would hardly impact her or her neighbors as the city installs detours.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said Evans. “We still have other accesses to get in and out of where we live so there’s not going to be any issues with us driving and getting back and forth to work.”

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