Spencerville, Ohio
| Fast Facts | |
| Scope | Replacement of a load-restricted bridge with a precast concrete box culvert and water main improvements |
| Services | Survey, construction plans, funding, easement and right-of-way plans, construction layout staking, bidding assistance, construction administration services |
| Construction Cost | $492,349 |
| Client | Village of Spencerville |
The Project:
For decades, Elm Street traffic crossed Rider Ditch on a steel beam, wooden deck bridge that had outlived its original design life. Built in 1940, the structure was showing the effects of more than 80 years of service and had been restricted to carrying just 9 tons, creating concerns for school buses, garbage trucks, and other vehicles that relied on the crossing. While various repairs over the years had extended the life of the structure, the Village of Spencerville knew the aging bridge needed to be replaced.
The Challenge:
With limited funding available, the Village had relied on piecemeal repairs over the years to keep the bridge in service. Those efforts bought time, but they couldn’t stop the bridge from aging. Spencerville needed a way to move beyond short-term fixes and secure funding for the long-term solution the community needed. To make matters more complicated, the replacement also had to account for an aging water main running through the area.
How We Helped:
Choice One Engineering worked with the Village to develop a competitive OPWC funding application, helping secure the resources needed to move the project forward. Once funding was in place, the team designed a new precast concrete box culvert that ultimately eliminated the load restriction and restored full use of the crossing. To make the most of the investment, the project also replaced the undersized water main, allowing the Village to address two infrastructure needs through a single project.
The Result:
Spencerville now has a more reliable crossing free from the previous load restriction. Funding support allowed the Village to deliver the long-needed improvement without having to take on the full financial burden alone.
