WOOD COUNTY, Ohio — Work to repair the Lime City Road bridge over I-75 in Rossford is set to begin in March, the Ohio Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday.
The bottom of the overpass was struck in February 2023 by a semi-truck carrying an oversized load that was too tall.
The project will include widening the structure on the southbound side to support a future multi-use path and it will raise the bridge height by over a foot.
ODOT said that beginning in late March or April, traffic on I-75 in the area of the bridge will be restricted. Lime City Road is anticipated to close in June for approximately 120 days, and the overall project is expected to be completed in 2025.
According to Pat McColley, ODOT District 2 deputy director, the existing bridge is at legal height, but they have a chance with this project to reduce the likelihood of it being struck again.
"The bridge has been struck a number of times -- each time by vehicles without a legal permit or that exceeded the height of the permit," McColley said.
The repairs also include removing and replacing the existing concrete bridge deck, replacing a damaged steel beam that was removed and repairing one of the existing beams.
According to ODOT, the project will be completed much faster than is typical due to the project being sold as a design-build contract.
"Bridge beams require time to design and fabricate and are the critical component in determining the construction schedule," said McColley. "Design-build allows us to get to and through design, onto fabricating, and into construction much faster. Had we proceeded with our normal project bidding method, we would not be going to construction this year."
The driver who struck the overpass last year, Lavoris Ruth, of Miami Gardens, Fla., was convicted on charges of driving while disqualified, failure to stop and overheight without permit.
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