City seeks public comment for Linwood bridge project

NORWALK — Norwalk's city government is seeking public comment for an upcoming construction project on the Linwood Bridge. The $4.5 million project is expected to replace the decking, sidewalks, vandal fencing and street lighting of the bridge, which is a main source of traffic within the city. The project is part of a grant-funded project through the Ohio Department of Transportation's bridge program. City officials anticipate the construction to begin next year. The bridge will be closed to pedestrians and vehicle traffic for about eight months. The detour for northbound traffic will be Summit Street to Benedict Avenue to East Seminary Street. For those traveling southbound, it will be East Seminary Street to Benedict Avenue to Summit Street. Pedestrian traffic will also use the same detour. Input sought As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the city is seeking comments from the public about the social, environmental, and economic impacts of the proposed project. Environmental impacts include those associated with historical, archeological and ecological resources, hazardous materials and general concerns people might have with the project. Written comments concerning the project may be mailed to Public Works director Aaron Osborn by email at publicworksdirector@norwalkoh.com or by sending a letter to: • City of Norwalk • 38 Whittlesey Ave. • Norwalk OH 44857 • Attn: Public Works Any comments must be received by Aug. 1, 2025. For further information, call 419-663-6735. In Feb. 2024, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine approved more than a dozen bridges in the state to receive funding for improvements, including the Linwood Bridge. The city was awarded a grant worth over $4.2 million. In Sept. 2023, Osborn and Norwalk Mayor Dave Light applied for the grant, which required the city to match a little over $225,000 of the funding. Linwood Bridge — which connects between East Seminary and Summit streets — was built in 1973. It went through a major reconstruction project beginning in 1993. A bridge study in 2021 reported 1,263 vehicles worth of daily traffic.