Butler County Engineer
Greg Wilkens reports that Allen Road Bridge #00.697 is restricted
to a 20-ton load limit effective immediately. This emergency
weight limit posting is due to structural deficiencies revealed
during a recent inspection.
Located on Allen Road
just east of Windisch Road and west of Schumacher Park Drive
in West Chester Township, the bridge is an aging steel truss
structure built in 1956. Bridge engineers have determined that
deterioration at each end of the structure has reduced its load
bearing capacity. The stringers and beams are also in poor condition.
High volumes of heavy truck traffic that utilize the bridge on
a daily basis have accelerated the problem.
Wilkens acknowledged
that Allen Road is an essential roadway for commerce in the Township's
southern section, but emphasized that public safety is a top
priority. "Given the bridge's rapid deterioration, it is
vitally important that we enforce load limits at this time,"
he said. "This structure has reached a point where it simply
can't handle the heavier loads any more. It would be irresponsible
to jeopardize the safety of motorists and truckers who use that
portion of Allen Road."
Engineers have determined
the bridge to be safe for passenger cars and other light vehicles;
however, heavier trucks should be kept off the bridge until it
is replaced. The BCEO has reallocated funding and revamped its
2004 project schedule to include
construction of a new bridge. "Since Allen Road is such
a critical link, we felt it was imperative to get this bridge
replacement on our schedule as quickly as possible," Wilkens
emphasized.
The BCEO's weight
limit enforcement team, in conjunction with the Butler County
Sheriff's Office, will patrol the area to ensure compliance with
the new 20-ton load limit and to serve as a reminder of the significance
of the bridge's weakened condition.
