Good Weather Allows Bridge Work to Continue Steadily

Construction work on the Main Street Bridge has been able to continue throughout the winter months due to mild weather conditions.

There's one good thing about El Nino.

With favorable weather conditions this winter, work has been able to continue on the Main Street Bridge despite delays early last fall with the state-selected contractor's difficulty drilling in the micro-pilings.

National Weather Service predictions for above-average temperatures during February and March mean that much of the structural work will be able to carry on throughout the winter months.

This week, steel work on the east side of the bridge is reportedly ready for Anlaan to pour the abutment early this week, weather permitting; the west side is already complete. Following that, Ohio Concrete will be cutting down the piers to prepare for the beams to be placed. A tentative date for hauling and placing the beams will be during the week of Feb. 15, but Village Manager Jeff Wallace cautioned that all dates are dependent on the weather.

During the time that the beams are being placed, there will likely be disruptions to businesses and residences in the immediate area. Village officials will give ample warning in the affected areas so that residents and business owners can make alternate plans for those few days.

While the bridge work remains far behind its anticipated schedule, Village administration is pleased that so much of the work can continue at a time when it was originally expected no work at all would be able to proceed. An updated schedule from the contractors will be forthcoming in the coming days.

Abutments on the west side of the Main Street Bridge are complete and awaiting the piers (at right) to be cut down preparing for beams to be placed.

Work on the east side of the bridge was completed last week, in preparation for the abutments to be poured.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.