Should Hilliard Road Bridge Be Replaced? Public Input Wanted

ROCKY RIVER, OH — Before the Hilliard Road bridge project moves forward, the public is asked to provide input on alternatives for rehabilitating or replacing the bridge.

The Hilliard Road bridge in Rocky River and Lakewood stretches across the Cleveland Metroparks and Valley Parkway Trail. Concrete debris is now falling from the bridge because of its decline, officials said.

"Due to its poor physical condition and increasingly rapid deterioration, the steering committee has recommended that removing the existing bridge and replacing it with a new bridge in the same location is the safest and most cost-effective alternative that satisfies the purpose of the project," the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works (DPW) said in a statement.

However, the public is being asked for input on the project. A presentation on alternatives for the bridge project were outlined in an online presentation, available to access for free.

The bridge project is being led by DPW and the Ohio Department of Transportation. Construction is slated to begin in 2023.

The bridge was originally constructed in 1925 and carries traffic through Lakewood and Rocky River. A 2013 study determined the bridge was in need of rehabilitation or replacement. Due to its worsening condition, plans are now in motion to replace the bridge completely, DPW officials said.