Franklinton neighborhood leaders joined Mayor Michael B. Coleman, City Council
President Pro-Tem Hearcel F. Craig and Ohio Department of Transportation
Director Jolene M. Molitoris to officially open the new Main Street Bridge
today. The project reconnects Franklinton with the Downtown following
demolition of the old Main Street Bridge in 2007.
“The new Main Street Bridge reconnects Franklinton with Downtown,
transporting residents in their cars, on their bikes, or on foot,” said Mayor
Coleman. “This is also a catalyst for residential and economic development
for Franklinton and for the RiverSouth area.”
The new bridge, which features an inclined arch on the bridge’s north side,
meets the needs of motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. An 18-foot, 7-inch
wide multi-use path on the bridge’s north side will accommodate pedestrians
and cyclists who bike to and from work or ride recreationally. Cyclists, by
law, also share the bridge’s roadway with automobiles. The project also
includes the resurfacing and conversion of West Rich Street from one-way to
two-way traffic between the west end of the bridge to McDowell Street.
“I am so excited about the Main Street Bridge being finished. This is
wonderful news,” said Franklinton Area Commission Chair Carol Stewart. “The
bridge being two-way opens our neighborhood back up to downtown the way it was
in the past.”
“This is a great day for Franklinton,” said Franklinton Development
Association Executive Director Jim Sweeney. “This bridge is obviously an
extremely important link between our community and downtown. Perhaps more
importantly it’s a symbol of the investment yet to come.”
The bridge’s roadway and multi-use path also will be used for festivals. The
Main Street bridge project also includes improvements to a portion of West
Bank Park on the west end of the bridge. West Bank Park improvements will be
finished with the completion of the Rich Street Bridge in August of 2011. Both
bridge projects are made possible through federal, state and local
partnerships.
“The Main Street Bridge is one of those signature projects that help define
a city,” said Councilmember Hearcel F. Craig, chair of the Public Service and
Transportation Committee. “This bridge serves as a link between two
neighborhoods in the midst of awesome transformation.”
The Main Street bridge project was funded through a federal, state and City of
Columbus partnership. ODOT managed the project’s construction.
“Across Ohio—in every county of our state and in every major mode of travel
and shipping—ODOT is making historic investments in our transportation
system,” said ODOT Director Jolene M. Molitoris. “The Main Street Bridge in
Columbus does more than connect two sides of a river. This project will serve
as a magnet for new jobs and economic growth in one of our state’s vital urban
centers.”
“The Main Street Bridge encompasses all elements of a complete street,”
said Chester R. Jourdan, Jr., MORPC Executive Director. “Traditionally river
crossings have proven to be barriers to bicyclists and pedestrians. This
bridge will allow all users to safely cross the Scioto River.”
Main Street Bridge Facts
- In addition to motorists, the Main Street Bridge welcomes pedestrians and
bicyclists
- The bridge features a multi-use path on its north side:
- The multi-use path is open to pedestrians and bicyclists; bicyclists by
law also share the road deck of the bridge with automobiles
- The multi-use path is 18 feet, 7 inches wide and is elevated to four feet
above the road deck at the bridge’s center point
- A five-foot wide sidewalk is on the south side of the bridge
- The Main Street bridge project includes construction of portion of West
Bank Park on the west side of the Scioto River. Remaining West Bank Park
improvements will be done with the completion of the Rich Street Bridge in
August 2011. Park improvements include:
- New bike paths
- New street lighting and
- New landscaping
- Related to West Bank Park improvements, Washington Boulevard between Rich
and Town streets will be resurfaced and new sidewalks, curbs and street
lighting will be added
- Bridge basic information:
- Length: 674.54 feet
- Width of roadway: 39 feet
- Lanes:
- Initially, the Main Street bridge will feature one westbound lane and one
westbound lane, each 12-feet wide
- Upon completion of the RiverSouth Project on the east side of the Scioto
River in the fall of 2011, the Main Street bridge will have a 12-foot wide
westbound lane and two eastbound lanes, one 12-feet wide and one 11-feet wide
- The bridge’s unique arch on the bridge’s north side at its peak stands
65.5 feet above the bridge’s road deck
- The Main Street bridge project includes roadway improvements on the west
and east sides of the bridge:
- West Rich Street has been resurfaced between the bridge’s west end and
McDowell Street.
- West Rich Street has been converted from one-way to two-way traffic
between the west end of the bridge and McDowell Street. This two-way
conversion includes new sidewalks and traffic calming islands to increase
pedestrian safety
- On the eastside of the bridge, the roadway was completely rebuilt,
including new sidewalks on the south side of West Main Street, between the
bridge and Civic Center Drive/South 2nd
Street
- Funding sources: Breakdown by agency
- ODOT: $19,860,209.07 (includes $4,660,209.07 in estimated inspection cost)
- Federal Earmarks: $8,590,000.00
- Ohio Public Works Commission: $5,212,343.00
- MORPC: $7,387,523.00
- City of Columbus (Construction – SIB Loan): $14,991,134.00
- City of Columbus (Design): $8,314,525.00
- Total Funding (budgeted, but not spent): $64,355,734.07
- Costs for project: Breakdown by category
- Construction of Bridge, and West Bank Park: $47,117,222.46 (budgeted)
- As of July 30, 2010, only $43,562,269 has been spent
- Design Cost (redesign, environmental and construction services):
$8,314,525.00
- Inspection Cost (estimated at 10%): $4,711,722.25
- Total Project Cost: $60,143,469.71
