AKRON, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has announced a "major milestone" on the long-awaited State Route 8 bridge replacement project in Akron. The new structure is being erected using a technique called "bridge launching," the first time ODOT has used the method on a bridge project.
So what exactly is "bridge launching"?
"The method involves crews building the bridge in sections on the ground, and slowly rolling each section from one pier – vertical support column - to the next into its final position," ODOT explained in a release. "Bridge launching was determined to be a more cost efficient and safer option for this project than conventional steel erection. Crews construct each section on the ground and avoid being suspended in the air.
ODOT says the first section of the bridge that was launched on Tuesday was 196 feet in length and would take approximately five to six hours to reach its final placement.
"Each section will be pushed from pier to pier using rollers and hydraulic jacks, which will move each section at about 40 feet per hour," ODOT added.
TIMETABLE
After the first launch is completed, ODOT says crews will start assembling the structural steel of the next section, which is slated to be 230 feet in length. The next section will then be launched in mid-August.
ODOT is planning six launches in all – totaling 1,600 feet and 8.2 million pounds of steel - for the SR 8 southbound structure, with the last one expected in January 2025.
Once the southbound bridge is completed, traffic on Route 8 will shift and work will start on the northbound bridge. ODOT anticipates that bridge launching for the northbound bridge will begin sometime in 2026.
The $158 million project is expected to be completed in 2028.
A LOOK BACK...AND A LOOK AHEAD
After 70 years of carrying traffic over various railroads, North Street, and the Little Cuyahoga River in Akron, the State Route 8 bridge is being replaced with this new structure, which had its groundbreaking in August 2023.
ODOT notes that the current State Route 8 bridge, which carries over 114,000 vehicles per day, "is a vital component of the transportation infrastructure in Northeast Ohio." Originally built in 1953, the bridge has undergone numerous repairs and has reached its expected lifespan, opening the door for a replacement to be built.
The replacement bridge will add a fourth lane in each direction to help improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. For SR-8 north, the northbound entrance ramp from Perkins Street will essentially be extended across the bridge to become the exit ramp for the Glenwood Avenue interchange. For SR-8 south, the southbound entrance ramp from Glenwood Avenue will extend across the bridge to the exit ramp for the Perkins Street interchange.
