Anthony bridge design work OK'd

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The Allen County Commissioners agreed Friday to spend almost $100,000 on design work related to needed repairs of the Anthony Boulevard Bridge over the Maumee River.

The bridge was closed for several weeks this summer after it was found to have structural problems. It has since reopened with a weight limit of 12 tons and fewer lanes, but officials said those repairs are only temporary. The entire upper structure of the bridge needs to be replaced.

Bill Hartman, Allen County highway director, said officials hope to have construction begin in the spring and finish by next fall. The work will require closing the bridge for eight or nine months. The engineering contract of $98,860 was awarded to Engineering Resources Inc.

Officials also agreed on changes to the Spring Street bridge project to incorporate pedestrian accessibility requirements. The changes will add $14,000 to the cost of the project, and push back the opening of the bridge to Oct. 5.

For more on this story, see Saturday's print edition of The Journal Gazette or visit www.journalgazette.net after 3 a.m. Saturday.

dstockman@jg.net