City of Columbus

Work To Replace 5th Avenue Bridge About To Begin

The West 5^th Avenue Bridge over the Scioto River, between Dublin Road and McKinley Avenue will close on Thursday, August 6, 2015, weather permitting, prior to demolition of the bridge.  The demolition work will clear the way for construction of a new, upgraded bridge that will safely accommodate motor vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. 

“We are investing in a new bridge that will increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists for decades to come,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman.  “This project will add sidewalk and a shared use path where none currently exist on a busy street.”

 

The new bridge will be widened to allow for the addition of:

• A sidewalk along the north side of West 5^th Avenue between Dublin Road and McKinley Avenue that will also extend across the new bridge.
• A Shared Use Path for bicycles and pedestrians along the south side of West 5^th Avenue that will also extend across the new bridge.  The Shared Use Path will serve as a section of the Scioto Trail Bikeway project, and will link to the Shared Use Path along the east side of Dublin Road, south from West 5^th Avenue.
• A fourth vehicle lane will serve as a dedicated eastbound left turn lane onto northbound Dublin Road.
• Curbs and gutters, street lighting and street trees on both sides of West 5^th Avenue between Dublin Road and McKinley Avenue.  The street lighting will extend onto the new bridge.
• A new, upgraded traffic signal on mast arms at the intersection of Dublin Road and West 5^th Avenue.

“This new bridge will help connect communities in the safest way possible,” said Councilmember Shannon G. Hardin, chair of the Public Service and Transportation Committee. “Repairing our existing infrastructure is critical to the life of the City, and I am excited that we have a contractor committed to tearing down and building up this bridge as quickly as possible to minimize the impact on the public.”

Construction of the new bridge is scheduled for completion December 3, 2015, weather permitting.

During the bridge’s demolition and construction phases, West 5^th Avenue between Dublin Road and Lake Shore Drive will be closed.  Motorists are advised to use Trabue Road as an alternate route that links Dublin Road and McKinley Avenue during the bridge’s demolition and construction phases.

The $9.7 million project is a collaboration between the Department of Public Service and the Recreation and Parks Department. 

The most recent annual inspection of the current West 5^th Avenue bridge on April 1, 2014, determined it is need of replacement, but poses no immediate threat the safety of the general public. 
 

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