A Cleveland bridge opened in 1933 and was being designed for a 2028 rehabilitation; new analysis found deeper floor-beam deterioration, forcing officials to close the 93-year-old bridge immediately

According to ODOT, the bridge was closed “out of an abundance of caution” and for “the safety of the public”.

A bridge in Cleveland, Ohio, that opened in 1933 has been closed until further notice after a recent analysis found more extensive deterioration than previously identified. Officials said the closure was ordered for public safety while engineers work on both short-term and long-term solutions.The Brookpark Road bridge, also known as the State Route 17 bridge and located near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, is located between West 220th Street and NASA Parkway, Cleveland 19 news reported. It crosses Valley Parkway and the Cleveland Metroparks. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced that the bridge would close immediately for emergency repairs, citing concerns about parts supporting its driving surface.The closure came as ODOT and its consultants were working towards a major rehabilitation project that had been planned for the coming years. Construction had been tentatively scheduled to begin in 2028, but further analysis during the design process changed the timeline.The latest decision followed an annual inspection of the ageing bridge. ODOT said the additional analysis found more extensive deterioration in the floor beams supporting the driving surface. Officials said the beams were badly deteriorated, and because of the condition of these structural components, they decided that keeping the bridge open could pose a safety concern.

Study reveals damage

The Brookpark Road bridge had already been the subject of a rehabilitation study following its 2023 inspection.After that inspection, ODOT hired a consultant to carry out a study of the bridge and determine what work would be needed. Once the study was completed, the department began designing a major rehabilitation project earlier this year.At that stage, construction was tentatively planned to start in 2028. The bridge, which had been serving traffic since 1933, was therefore expected to remain in use until the rehabilitation work could begin.However, the design process involved further analysis of the structure. That analysis revealed that the deterioration of the floor beams was more extensive than previously understood.These beams support the driving surface of the bridge, making their condition an important part of the structure’s safety. ODOT said the decision to shut the bridge was taken “out of an abundance of caution” and for “the safety of the public”.Brent Kovacs, ODOT District 12 public information officer, said officials had considered options such as reducing the load allowed on the bridge or reducing the number of lanes. However, ODOT decided that a complete closure was safer.“We always say if a roadway or a bridge is unsafe for the motoring public to be on, we’re going to close it in a minute, and that is really the case,” Kovacs said, as quoted by Fox 8.“We feel that this is the safest thing that we can do rather than reducing the load or reducing lanes or something temporary,” he said.

With the bridge closed, drivers using Brookpark Road have been asked to follow designated detours. (Cleveland 19 news photo)

What happens next

The immediate closure has prompted ODOT to assess whether the major rehabilitation planned for 2028 can be moved forward or whether a temporary fix could safely allow traffic to return. Officials and consultants are now evaluating the available options.“Over the next week or two, we’re going to look at what our alternatives are and determine the best course of action,” Kovacs said.There is currently no timeline for when the bridge will reopen. The closure will remain in place while ODOT and its consultants determine the safest course of action.

Traffic detours

With the bridge closed, drivers using Brookpark Road have been asked to follow designated detours. For traffic travelling eastbound, the recommended route is through Clague Road to Interstate 480 east. Drivers should then take the SR 17/SR 237 exit.Westbound traffic will be diverted through Grayton Road to I-480 west, followed by Clague Road and then Brookpark Road.The detours are intended to keep traffic moving while the bridge remains closed. The closure affects the section of Brookpark Road between West 220th Street and NASA Parkway.ODOT has also asked motorists to be patient while officials work through the options. “Please just use patience,” Kovacs said. “We are working here as quickly as we can to figure out the best solution and the safest solution.”