The End IS in Sight

The railroad bridge which will carry rail traffic over south State Route 252 (Columbia Road) has been finished. Once the support piers were in place the steel was laid for the bridge and ultimately the concrete poured. Then a very heavy rubber membrane was laid down the length of the rail bridge and two additional layers of rubber mats applied before the ties were installed. The mats will keep the sharp stone ballast from rubbing against the new concrete and causing us misery in the future. The switchback of the two main rails from the temporary "Shoofly" or runaround will be moved on Monday August 23rd and August 30th. Rail traffic will be a bit slower the first day after each switchback to be sure everything is even. Then the steel sheeting that was installed to hold the ground steady while the bridge was built will be removed and the northerly portion of the new road can be excavated. We are hoping for a target day opening of late November for the finished roadway.

Incidentally, Great Lakes Construction Company is storing the excavated dirt from the underpass to be stored behind the construction trailers with the intent to use it on the Fitch Road Overpass which will begin construction sometime in 2011. The Fitch Road Overpass will be constructed under the supervision of the Cuyahoga County Engineer.

We take this opportunity to remind you that the speed limit on that portion of Columbia Road, S.R. 252 is 25 miles per hour and we are serious about the enforcement of that speed. The final roadway will be 2 lanes beneath the bridge. Any accident or fender bender on the new roadway could cause time delays for you or your neighbors. Furthermore, while the track is being moved back the construction workers are very close to the roadway and we all need to be cognizant of their safety.

Final work on the connection of Tyndall Falls to Columbia Road will be made next Spring. By the end of May 2011 the entire project should be finished and our constant gripe of waiting for trains to pass will be a thing of the past. Welcome to the future.

Bev Smith, Special Projects Manager