WATERVILLE, Ohio — The City of Waterville has officially taken ownership of the historic Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge from the Ohio Department of Transportation, allowing city officials to move forward with a plan aimed at preserving the century-old structure.
According to city officials, the proposal calls for a partial demolition of the bridge rather than removing it entirely. Portions of the deteriorating structure would be taken down while the bridge’s historic concrete arches would remain in place.
Those preserved arches would serve as the foundation for a future pedestrian and bicycle crossing over the Maumee River.
Officials said approximately $4 million previously designated for demolition would be used for the first phase of the project. A second phase, which includes construction of the pedestrian bridge, is estimated to cost an additional $7 million. The city plans to seek state and federal grant funding and explore fundraising opportunities to help finance the project.
The bridge, originally constructed in 1908 for the Ohio Electric Railway, has spanned the Maumee River for more than a century and has become a recognizable landmark in Waterville. Although it has not carried traffic for many years, preservation efforts have sought to save portions of the historic structure.
The initial demolition work is expected to begin around the Fourth of July, while the long-term pedestrian bridge project remains dependent on engineering evaluations and future funding.
Enjoy some great drone footage of the bridge.
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