By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Residents from both sides of the new Waterville bridge over the Maumee River met in the middle this morning to celebrate the opening of the $13 million structure.
“It’s been a long-time coming,” said Bowling Green resident Judy White. “It was inconvenient, I cross it quite often.”
But White was pleased with the completed project.
“I think it’s beautiful,” she said. “And we’ve got sidewalks now.”
After a four-month delay due to bad weather, both the old and new bridges were closed to traffic Friday morning for the Ohio Department of Transportation ribbon cutting on the new bridge.
The new bridge offers details personal to Waterville – such as decorative balusters including Carruth pieces, arched fascia panels, decorative piers, and aesthetic light poles to coordinate with the town’s existing light poles.
The new bridge has one 12-foot driving lane in each direction with 4-foot shoulders, one protected 12-foot shared use path on the north side, and one protected 7-foot sidewalk on the south side.
The bridge also has five observation platforms, lighting and see-through railings.
The new bridge was met with rave reviews from people taking the opportunity to walk across it this morning.
“It’s beautiful, and the lookouts are great,” said Norm Witzler, of Waterville, who thinks he might try fishing from the observation platforms.
His brother, Garry Witzler, who lives on the other side of the river near Tontogany, was initially concerned about losing the old bridge.
“I hate to see the old go – but this is nice,” Garry Witzler said as he compared the two bridges.
As a member of the Waterville Historical Society, Norm Witzler said he and others wanted to make sure motorists could see the river as they traversed the bridge.
“It looks really nice,” he said.
Stan and Dona Lepiarz, of Waterville, tried out the pedestrian walkway this morning with their dog, Blaze at their feet as a drone snapped photos overhead.
“This is awesome,” Stan Lepiarz said, pointing out the dual pathways – for pedestrians and bicyclists.
They both noted their appreciation for ODOT leaving the old bridge in operation during construction of the new one. “That was very smart,” Stan Lepiarz said.
Dona Lepiarz is looking ahead to the new bridge possibly bringing new people to Waterville.
“I hope they bring some new business downtown,” she said.
Once traffic is switched onto the new bridge, crews will begin demolishing the current bridge piece-by-piece. Crews will then finish constructing the outlooks on the northern side of the bridge along the shared use path, which cannot be finished now due to the proximity to the current bridge.
The decision to build the new bridge south/upstream of the existing structure was based upon multiple factors including environmental and historical considerations, cost, public opinion and length of closure, according to ODOT.
Demolition of the old Waterville bridge is expected to be completed this fall.
