I-71 closed again Sunday for stubborn Warren County bridge demolition

The third time was not quite the charm that ODOT officials were expecting as contractors tried again to take down the remaining steel structure of the Jeremiah-Morrow Bridge last weekend. For the third day, I-71 was shut down on a Sunday morning to allow explosive demolition work to be performed next to new concrete bridges that carry traffic over the Little Miami River Valley in Warren County. One stubborn steel expanse on the north side of the old bridge failed to collapse in the last round of explosive charges, leaving large pieces of the structure intact and still attached to the concrete piers. Chunks of steel structure from the south side of the bridge are being trucked away daily. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

The third time was not quite the charm that ODOT officials were expecting as contractors tried again to take down the remaining steel structure of the Jeremiah-Morrow Bridge last weekend. For the third day, I-71 was shut down on a Sunday morning to allow explosive demolition work to be performed next to new concrete bridges that carry traffic over the Little Miami River Valley in Warren County. One stubborn steel expanse on the north side of the old bridge failed to collapse in the last round of explosive charges, leaving large pieces of the structure intact and still attached to the concrete piers. Chunks of steel structure from the south side of the bridge are being trucked away daily. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

Road closures are planned again on Sunday on and around the section of Interstate 71 across the Little Miami River on the Jeremiah Morrow Bridge.

It would be the fourth time motorists and others are inconvenienced to complete demolition of the old Jeremiah Morrow Bridge in Warren County.

RELATED: Third implosion effort incomplete

“Obviously nobody planned on this all happening,” Matt Bruning, spokesman for ODOT said earlier this week.

Southbound I-71 will be closed to traffic between the Ohio 73 and Ohio 48 exits from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m. Sunday, May 21. The detour uses Ohio 73, U.S. 42 and Ohio 48.

RELATED: Third implosion in four weeks

On northbound I-71, there will be intermittent short-term full closures between Ohio 73 and Ohio 48, using the same detour in reverse, from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Also during this time, traffic on the Little Miami Scenic River and Trail will not be permitted between Wilmington Road and Ohio 350. North- and south-bound rest areas will be closed during this time.

RELATED: Bridge implosion misfires

Law enforcement and construction personnel will be on site at various access points to the interstate, river and scenic trail to enforce these restrictions.

Also a temporary flight restriction will be in place in a half-mile horizontal radius and 3,000 feet from the bridge and between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and unmanned aircraft systems will not be permit in the restricted area. Unmanned are prohibited in the restricted area.

RELATED: Drone’s eye view of the remaining section

WATCH: Section of Jeremiah Morrow Bridge is imploded

ODOT met this week with the contractor about what to do with the piece that so far has not been demolished — despite four tries in three of the last four weeks.

» EARLIER: I-71 bridge, Ohio’s tallest, nears completion after 6 years, $104M

The fourth explosive charges, set last Sunday, came on the third day designated for implosion of the old southbound span of the bridge over Interstate 71 and the little Miami River. This attempt brought down the southern part of the southernmost piece of the southbound span.

But the north side of the remaining steel landed on the cement pier for the old bridge.

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