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Bridge project raises emergency-response concerns
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - May 12, 2011)
Bridge project raises emergency-response concerns
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Munson Township Trustees raised concerns last week about plans for bridge replacement and realignment of two offset intersections.
Trustees raised their concerns during a public forum called by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to hear about possible environmental impacts from the project.
Their concerns for the work planned at Auburn and Sherman roads, however, was not primarily with the environment but the ability of emergency responders to make their way to the southern part of the township.
"It could add 10 to 15 minutes to the response time depending on where it (a call) is at," Trustee Andrew Bushman said.
The road work, which is to begin next summer, will involve installing a box culvert at the intersection over the Chagrin River, just south of the Munson Fire Station. It will be the first phase of a project that ultimately replaces the bridge there and realigns the west and east sections of Sherman Road.
Mr. Bushman said close to two-thirds of the township lies south of the intersection, with Auburn Road serving as a main thoroughfare to that area.
He said, in theory, the realignment will alleviate frequent accidents in the area.
Trustee Irene McMullen joined Mr. Bushman in expressing concern for emergency forces to have needed access. "The response times need to be addressed," she said.
She said one resident did write to ask whether an upstream beaver dam would be affected, but that is not expected to be an issue with the project as the dam is outside the area of work.
While she agrees the crumbling bridge should be replaced, Ms. McMullen said, she is not sure whether the straightening project will be a benefit or a problem that causes more accidents.
"Straightening it might make people less cautious," she said, explaining that people may arrive at the intersection at higher speeds with a straightened road.
She said she hopes the Geauga County Engineer's Office is correct in its analysis that the intersection will be safer, rather than more of a hazard.
Geauga County Engineer Robert Phillips said, if there is a way, he will work to ensure the least amount of disruption during the project that now is expected to close the road for approximately 90 days.
Mr. Phillips said, until a traffic plan is created and the sequencing of the project is determined, it is impossible to say how the project could be altered to allow more emergency access.
Keeping the bridge open may depend on the reach of a crane which will be used to lower the box culvert into place, he said. If it has enough reach, a portion of the bridge may be kept open to keep emergency vehicles moving through the area.
He said it is hoped that the 90-day closure can be reduced to half that amount or less.
As for the need for the project, Mr. Phillips said, the county is continually fixing the guardrail at the intersection because of the frequent accidents there. Bringing the east and west sections of Sherman Road into alignment is expected to reduce the number of accidents, he said.
He estimated that even with the closure, emergency vehicles may only have to detour an extra two miles around the construction by heading west on Sherman Road.
Mr. Phillips said the project will impact about a quarter of an acre of class 3 wetlands, considered the highest quality, as fill will be used in preparation for the road realignment.
He said the county has also been patching the bridge to keep it together for years, but the economics now dictate replacing the aging structure rather than continuing with the repairs.
Munson Fire Chief Bernie Harchar said until he sees the plans for the project, any guess as to how it will affect response times is purely speculation.
He said he hopes the county will provide at least 90 days notice before construction begins to discuss the matter with the fire department. If the closure is determined to be an extensive amount of time, the department may have to consider relocating an ambulance in the township to provide adequate response.
Mr. Harchar said a bridge replacement project along Mayfield Road (Route 322) about five years ago was expected to result in a long closure.
But, he said, after local officials explained the need for keeping the road o-pen for emergency vehicles, state officials were reworked their plans to keep one lane open.
The EPA will continue to take written comment from the public on the project until May 12. Comments may be submitted to the Ohio EPA, division of surface water, attn. permits processing unit, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus 43216-1049.
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