ODOT plans 2022 renovations on West Wilson Bridge Road

The bridge on West Wilson Bridge Road over state Route 315 in Worthington is expected to be fully closed to vehicles for an undetermined amount of time starting in summer 2022 for planned renovations by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

However, the $1.6 million project is expected to be done before the end of next year, according to ODOT.

The bridge, which also spans the Olentangy River in Worthington near Olentangy Park and Olentangy River Road, is in need of a bridge deck overlay – or rehabilitation to the bridge deck – and some repairs to the concrete, according to ODOT spokeswoman Brooke Ebersole.

That work will include widening of the bicycle lane on the bridge and the installation of some grating that is bike-appropriate, she said.

Ebersole said ODOT expects the bridge will have to be completely closed to traffic during the work period, which is expected to begin in summer 2022 and wrap up by the end of the year.

More information regarding timelines and detours is expected to become available when the project goes out to bid in June, she said.

Additionally, ODOT is expected to begin work replacing overhead lights along Worthington’s portion of state Route 315 with LEDS next year, as well, Ebersole said.

However, the lights and bridge work are two separate projects.

Ebersole said the projects are paid for by the state, with no costs incurred on Worthington.

ODOT already is conducting ongoing work to upgrade the lights on roadways throughout the state as part of a $30 million project, she said, and crews are expected to begin this work on state Route 315 in Worthington at some point in 2022.

“It’s a statewide project, primarily here in central Ohio and then in eastern and southeastern Ohio,” Ebersole said.

No road closures on state Route 315 are expected due to the light-fixture upgrades, she said.

Ebersole said the lighting upgrades are necessary to improve safety conditions along the route and are a more cost-effective option because they require less maintenance. LEDS also have a lesser likelihood of malfunctioning, which not only saves ODOT time and resources, she said, but also means less roadside crews fixing lighting fixtures on the highway where they often have to block off a lane to conduct the work.

“This helps improve safety in the corridor, and reduces the amount of maintenance and cost that would be incurred long-term,” she said.

The route currently has high-pressure sodium lights installed, Ebersole said.

Worthington City Manager Matt Greeson said the city welcomes ODOT’S plans to upgrade the route to LED efficiency lights and conduct renovations to the bridge on West Wilson Bridge Road.

Greeson said the city’s role in this work is mostly limited to granting consent legislation to ODOT that gives them permission to work in the city. That legislation was approved by Worthington City Council on Nov. 15. sborgna@thisweeknews.com @Thisweeksteve