Preliminary investigation into a culvert bridge repair in North Lewisburg has revealed a problem that might come with a price tag north of $100,000.
The short structure that spans Spain Creek provides access to the village’s wastewater treatment plan from Route 245. While the structure is still passable for passenger vehicles, it has been deemed unsafe for heavier loads, such as the trucks that haul sludge from the facility.
Village Administrator Todd Freyhof explained that six weeks ago he asked the Champaign County Commissioner’s office to look over the culvert, expecting that it would need to be replaced at some point in the future. What they found was that the structure, built in 1972, was in much worse shape than expected.
Designed to let water pass through the concrete structure during normal flow, or over it during periods of heavy rain. Inspection revealed that much of the concrete had been eroded.
“It’s been hollowed out over time,” Freyhof said. “It’s a big cavity underneath.”
The integrity of the bridge was damaged to the point that officials deemed it was unsafe to allow trucks to transport sludge out of the facility. Freyhof said about 10 tons of sludge are driven from the facility to landfills every two weeks.
Freyhof told village council Tuesday night that engineers have recommended that the current culvert be completely abandoned and removed.
Complicating the matter is that Spain Creek has been registered as a scenic waterway meaning that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, EPA and Army Corps of Engineers will be involved in approving the final corrective plan.
The administrator noted that there is another access route to the plant that is used when Spain Creek spills its banks, but that route does not appear to be viable, because it crosses a bike path and a different culvert which would not hold up to the weight of the trucks. It also travels through a park which would result in solid waste material being transported across a recreational area.
At this point, according to Freyhof, new bridge over the creek may be the best way to restore complete access to the plant.
Initial quotes obtained for the bridge set the cost from $52,000-$60,000. On top of that, engineering and permitting costs will run another $34,000 and a cost for installation labor has yet to be quoted.
There is also a time element attached to the work, as the plant continues to accrue sludge. Freyhof said the village probably has another 60 days of capacity for sludge before it will meet a critical level for removal.
The administrator told council he has received quotes for temporary bridges that could be used until a final structure is set in place. Those structures cost anywhere from $128 to $528 per day to rent.
Freyhof said one company allows a portion of the rental fee to be put toward the final cost of a bridge purchase. That version of bridge, however, is not galvanized and officials worry that it might rust too quickly. A galvanized version of bridge is more expensive and does not allow rental prices to be applied to purchase.
Freyhof said the village is negotiating with the EPA in an effort to try to allow recent fines to be applied to the corrective costs associated with the bridge.
A chemical leak at the sewage treatment plant in 2022 resulted in the village being given a $31,000 fine. Freyhof said he thought if the village can show that the corrective measure is beneficial to Spain Creek, he thought the EPA might allow the fine to transfer.
Freyhof said the EPA has not is considering the issue.