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Originally published Aug. 6, 2024
BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Transportation’s sudden closure of the Blaine Hill Bridge Monday has left many Belmont County residents asking why this happened.
ODOT Statewide Press Secretary Matt Bruning addressed those questions with Dimitri Vassilaros on Dimitri – Live & Dangerously Local! on the River Radio Network Tuesday.
Bruning says the bridge was deteriorating and this played a major factor in ODOT’s decision to close it, but wrong-way drivers were also a big safety concern.
Unfortunately, we had a massive amount of people going around barriers, ignoring signs and creating a massive safety hazard for people who were trying to go the right way on that bridge, and we were not going to risk a head-on collision.
ODOT Statewide Press Secretary Matt Bruning
Bruning says safety is ODOT’s top concern and that overrides any travel or time inconvenience the bridge closure causes for people who work, live or travel in the area.
The bridge closure is now causing traffic tie ups in Bridgeport along Routes 40, 70 and 7.
Beginning July 3, ODOT allowed bridge traffic to travel eastbound traffic only following an inspection finding of deterioration. Many drivers ignored signs and traveled up the bridge, risking head-on collisions.
The Blaine Hill Bridge was closely monitored. Bruning explained that Ohio requires annual inspections of bridges, but ODOT began inspecting the Blaine Hill Bridge every three months due to deterioration. Still, Bruning says the bridge is not ready to collapse.
It’s not in danger of falling down immediately.
ODOT Statewide Press Secretary Matt Bruning
Bruning says installing a traffic light to manage traffic would not have worked on the Blaine Hill Bridge due to traffic backups on the hill and the side roads coming onto Route 40. He added that law enforcement officers issued multiple citations for wrong-way driving, so it does not seem that posting officers was a deterrent to illegal driving.
The Blaine Hill Bridge is currently the only bridge closed by ODOT in the state of Ohio, Bruning says.
You can see Dimitri’s full interview with ODOT Statewide Press Secretary Matt Bruning on Facebook here.
