On Thursday July 29, City staff was notified of a structural concern regarding the existing Imhoff Creek Bridge located on Imhoff Road between Walnut Road and South Berry Road. This bridge is nearly 50 years old and includes a large, concrete box culvert structure. One of the structural walls at the southeast corner of bridge became dislocated from the main structure due to age and decay. During investigation of this issue, City staff determined that the roadway over this structure was no longer safe for traffic or pedestrians due to on-going channel bank erosion and undermining of the concrete structure.

Immediately after closure of this bridge, City staff began the process of evaluation and planning to determine the extent of work needed to repair the damaged wall and perform appropriate maintenance on the bridge structure to reopen for use. On August 4, City staff granted a Notice to Proceed to H.W. Lochner Inc. to provide professional structural engineering services for emergency bridge repair. After a thorough evaluation and inspection of this structure has been completed, construction efforts will begin utilizing the current FYE 22 Bridge Maintenance contract awarded to Haskell Lemon Construction Company on July 13. Beginning Tuesday, August 10, Haskell Lemon Construction Company will begin mobilization of equipment and materials to the site to begin performing previously scheduled maintenance of structure as well as some preliminary work in preparation of the structural wall repair.

Imhoff Road remains closed between South Berry Road and Walnut Road until further notice. Traffic signs will remain in place to detour vehicles to South Berry Road for eastbound traffic and Chautauqua Avenue for westbound traffic. Drivers should plan extra travel time while work on this bridge is in progress. In the meantime, no existing homes or private improvements in the vicinity are in any danger nor is the existing Imhoff Creek drainage channel impeded in any way.

Please direct any questions or concerns to Joseph Hill, Public Works Streets Program Manager, at 405-329-2524 or joseph.hill@normanok.gov.