The Maumee River Crossing Project
by Michael J. Siffer, P.E., ASHE NW Ohio
Section
Citizens in northwest Ohio are working with the Ohio Department
of Transportation (ODOT), a Project Management Consultant (PMC)
team lead by HNTB Corporation and the Maumee River Crossing
Task Force (MRCTF) to design and construct a new cable-stayed
bridge structure and its accompanying roadway approaches. The
project will be a major architectural, engineering and transportation
asset for northwest Ohio.
The Maumee River Crossing represents the largest, most expensive
single project undertaken in the history of ODOT. Cost is estimated
to be $270 million. The new crossing will carry six lanes of
traffic on I-280, extending from Manhattan Boulevard on the
north end of I-280 to Navarre Avenue on the south end. The surface
of the roadway will reach about 130 feet high near the center
of the river. The new bridge replaces a lift span that results
in regular traffic delays during the shipping season.
Gordon Proctor, ODOT Director speaking of the Maumee River
Crossing Project, "This is a signature project for Northwest
Ohio. With a project of this scale and impact, it is imperative
that community members voice their ideas and concerns."
In keeping with this commitment, ODOT, the MRCTF and Project
Management Consultant have implemented an extensive community
outreach program. The efforts included over 34 public meetings,
99 community presentations, displays and solicitation of thousands
of comments through the project web site, newsletter and newspaper
ads. From this input, the following key decisions were made:
Type of bridge
The design process for the I-280/Maumee River Crossing Project
began in April of 1999. The first task, and an area of intense
public involvement, was the selection of a bridge type. In October
of 1999, after nearly half a year of evaluation and public outreach,
ODOT selected the cable-stayed bridge (pictured) as the bridge
type that would span the Maumee River. The cable-stayed design
was also the favorite of citizens who participated in public
meetings
The bridge design, developed by Figg Bridge Engineers, incorporates
design elements selected by the public at workshops held in
April and May 2000. These elements include:
- A single pylon
- A single plane of cable stays in a fan-like arrangement
- Glass incorporated into the pylon viewable from all four
directions
- Top of the pylon to be a focal point
- A prismatic pylon top
- Lighting used on cable stays and on the pylon below the
roadway deck
- Lighting of the pylon, behind the glass, using color
- A partially solid bridge railing
- Low maintenance cable stays of stainless steel
The new I-280 Maumee River Bridge will be a prominent addition
to the Toledo skyline. The graphic above compares the size of
the new bridge design with the existing Anthony Wayne Bridge
and the Owens-Illinois building, the tallest building in downtown
Toledo. Height measurements are from water level.
Themes used in the bridge design
The Maumee River Crossing Task Force conducted three months
of public outreach to determine a theme for this signature project.
On February 25, 2000, the Task Force recommended a Transportation
theme for the main corridor of the project, an Industry/Glass
theme for the main bridge span to commemorate Toledo's history
as the Glass City and a Natural Resources theme for the land
reuse areas. ODOT accepted the recommendation on March 4, 2000.
Land reuse options for open spaces left behind
What to do with the land under and around the new bridge when
I-280 becomes an elevated roadway was another important issue
taken to the public. There are approximately 44 acres that lie
beneath and adjacent to the interstate, the approaches and the
exit ramps that will become open space when the bridge is complete.
The elevated approaches for the new structure begin near the
Greenbelt Parkway for Southbound I-280 and Ravine Park for Northbound
I-280.
After five months of public input and five public meetings
the recommendation for this reusable land was to fill the trench
area in north Toledo and reconnect the streets to reunite the
neighborhoods. And, for both east and north Toledo the decision
was to leave some contouring to the land, not to impede access
to the river and to use the limited land resources in the most
efficient way.
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