Help Preserve the Orange Road Bridge

Photo: 2004 rj

The fight to save the Orange Road Bridge in Delaware County continues! Instead of bypassing or removing this historic bridge an alternative has been proposed by the local preservation committee: namely, to rehabilitate the bridge for 1-way traffic and build a replica bridge next to it for opposite-way traffic.

County Engineer Bauserman reportedly has refused a request made last November by the 5 local organizations of Project SOUL (Save Our Unique Landmark) to hold public hearings on the bridge project. At a private meeting with the CE in December it was asked if the bridge could be rehabbed. Bauserman said it could; but it still wouldn't meet today's standards. When asked if there was a way to get a waiver of the standards due to the historic nature of the bridge, he said, "Yes, under special circumstances". He was then asked what was more special than the only place in Ohio with National Register, State Scenic River, and State Scenic Byway designations all in one location?

Delaware County has removed most of its historic bridges (including the Stockwell Road, Hoskins, Cheshire, Culver Creek, and Main Road) and has but one remaining Covered Bridge (that is in very poor condition). The Orange Road Bridge is the most starred of the Delaware bridges. The county appears to lack the innovation to support compromise solutions that have worked in other counties

For more information contact:

Judi Brozek, jbrozek@columbus.rr.com
Chair Project SOUL
944 W. Orange Road
Delaware, OH 43015