COLUMBUS – Although all lanes of travel through the downtown split on westbound I-70 were reopened quickly after an overpass was damaged by a semi Saturday, the Ohio Department of Transportation is not ruling out future lane closures while repairs on the 4th Street bridge continue.
ODOT and the city of Columbus are coordinating longer-term temporary repairs of the overpass that was damaged when it was struck by a semi carrying an over-height excavator, ODOT spokeswoman Hannah Salem.
The damaged beam is located on the east side of the bridge under the sidewalk and does not carry the active load of traffic.
“Structurally, the 4th Street bridge is sound. We were fortunate the damage from this incident was confined to one exterior beam,” said Jeff Hipp, ODOT District 6 Bridge Engineer.
A salvaged beam from the demolished Front Street bridge was cut to length and placed on top of 4th Street and secured to the damaged beam with chains and load binders (right).
The next round of repairs will remove the damaged beam, provide support for a utility duct, and reopen another lane of traffic on 4th Street. Temporary pedestrian access will be established in the eastern-most lane of 4th Street, as the current sidewalk will need to remain closed, Salem said.
The 4th Street bridge will be demolished and rebuilt as part a future phase of the I-70/I-71 improvements currently under construction.