Bridge used by 20,000 vehicles a day coming down for safety reasons

The Keowee Street Bridge over the Great Miami River will close in December of this year. A construction bid of $8.8 million has been awarded to Eagle Construction for a new bridge and demolition of the existing bridge. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

The Keowee Street Bridge over the Great Miami River will close in December of this year. A construction bid of $8.8 million has been awarded to Eagle Construction for a new bridge and demolition of the existing bridge. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

A bridge that 20,000 vehicles use daily between Harrison Township and the city of Dayton will be demolished and rebuilt because of safety concerns, Montgomery County Engineer Paul Gruner said.

The Keowee Street Bridge over the Great Miami River will close in December, or as soon as the new Helena Street Bridge is opened.

Eagle Construction’s bid of $8.8 million has been awarded for a new bridge and demolition of the existing bridge, which will take place first.

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The Keowee Street Bridge is the last of the filled arch bridges in Montgomery County.

The bridge is structurally deficient according to Gruner.

“It’s in very poor condition. There’s pieces of concrete falling off onto the bike path and into the river. It needs to be done for the safety of the public,” Gruner said.

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The new bridge will be wider and is being designed to “accommodate the needs of the rowing community. The spans are longer. They’ll be able to pass two skulls underneath, side-by-side. The project will take about two years, or, two construction seasons.” Gruner says.

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