The intrepid Otterbein students who travel between the two ends of campus may face a tougher trek next year.
The city of Westerville has decided to renovate the Main Street bridge, which students use to get from the main part of campus to the new science and art/communication buildings.
The renovation is starting ahead of schedule, said Westerville Fire Division Chief Bernie Ingles.
The current bridge was designed to last for around 30-40 years and was last renovated in 1960. There are some safety concerns, but Ingles said it is not an immediate safety hazard.
However, he said he's "starting to see some conditions under the structure that means it needs to be replaced."
The bridge would be closed during renovations, which could pose a challenge to Otterbein pedestrian traffic.
President C. Brent DeVore and Dean of Student Affairs Bob Gatti have been attending decision-making meetings to make sure the college has input.
They requested that construction plans include a walkway to remain open during renovation so students can get to class. However, there has been no final decision made about this addition.
"We had asked the city and architects to put in a walkway for students," said Larry Banaszak, director of Otterbein security.
A new design for the renovation will hopefully be chosen sometime this month. The city is currently considering three bridge designs, with costs around $6 million.
The cheapest would involve leaving the original support structure in place, repairing any damage and adding on a new bridge over top.
Single- or double-arch designs would require the structural support be removed from the creek and the bridge lengthened.
These choices are more expensive but are getting serious consideration.
"I would guess they're leaning toward the cheapest. It always depends on the final cost," Ingles said.
All the bridge choices would separate pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic, which could make getting to classes easier and safer for students in the long-run, said Ingles.
Ingles doesn't believe the renovation will affect traffic, thanks to the construction of County Line Road, which provides an alternate route around the construction.
The county is still taking feedback through a questionnaire that can be found online at franklincountyengineer.org
