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National Boards => Bridges => Topic started by: BrianP on March 29, 2013, 01:14:24 PM

Title: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: BrianP on March 29, 2013, 01:14:24 PM
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/582747/Bellaire-Bridge-Has-Deadline.html
March 21, 2013

QuoteOwners of the Bellaire Bridge have until June 20 to secure a performance bond needed for the permit to take down the span, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio ruled.

QuoteBenwood officials learned this week that if bridge owners Krystal and Lee Chaklos of KDC Investments and Delta Demolition fail to secure the bond by that time, they will have to pay a $1,000 per day fine. Also, once the bond is secured and a permit granted by the city of Benwood, demolition work must start within one week, according to a ruling issued by Judge Algenon L. Marbley.

QuotePieces of metal and concrete have periodically fallen from the structure to the city streets below. The city could also look into having the concrete removed and leaving the bridge structure, which has been deemed as safe.
I'd take safe as a relative term.  As in it's safe to not collapse under it's own weight and nothing more and that's subject to change over time.
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: SteveG1988 on April 01, 2013, 01:54:57 PM
The demolition will be interesting, i wonder how they are going to make it safe to have the crew on the span jackhammering away at the deck
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: BrianP on April 18, 2013, 12:21:30 PM
The latest on the stalemate:
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/583971/Bridge-Owner-Wants-to-Work.html?nav=515

http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/584192/Bridge-Metal-Put-On-eBay.html?nav=515

The owner is afraid to put up the bond money:
QuoteBenwood City Council also agreed to the name of a third party - Weirton lawyer Dan Guida - being placed alongside the city's on the $500,000 escrow account. This move came after the Chakloses expressed concern about the city not returning the bond money after the project was complete.

And the city won't give permits without the bond. 
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: getemngo on May 07, 2013, 05:48:03 PM
I'll believe it when I see it coming down!

So strange that this bridge that closed 20 years ago was never replaced. (And remember, it only closed because construction of OH 7 mucked up the configuration of the west end. That's a weak excuse.)

Is there really so little demand for a direct connection between Benwood and Bellaire to have no plans for any bridge between them? I imagine they probably used to be "twin cities" and now there's very little incentive to travel between them, especially when you can whiz right by both on freeways.
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: ARMOURERERIC on May 07, 2013, 09:00:50 PM
It appears that there is a closed exit from the 250 to the bridge, if so, that makes it unusual to me the OH would cut off the bridge on their end.
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: SteveG1988 on May 08, 2013, 08:51:46 AM
Quote from: ARMOURERERIC on May 07, 2013, 09:00:50 PM
It appears that there is a closed exit from the 250 to the bridge, if so, that makes it unusual to me the OH would cut off the bridge on their end.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.panoramio.com%2Fphotos%2Flarge%2F9811610.jpg&hash=6b4aed190176281375b348f0f0ab83b557104498)

The entrance to the Korean DMZ looks more inviting.

Someone should see if they can film a movie on it to save the bridge, anything with a POW/Spy exchange could use it
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: seicer on May 08, 2013, 10:14:31 AM
http://bridgestunnels.com/bridges/ohio-river/bellaire-interstate-toll-bridge/

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbridgestunnels.com%2Fwp-content%2Fgallery%2Fbellaire-interstate-toll-bridge%2F20100717-_dsc2751.jpg&hash=92ece10f066e1f686e43493547b959733164d9c7)

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbridgestunnels.com%2Fwp-content%2Fgallery%2Fbellaire-interstate-toll-bridge%2F20100717-_dsc2753.jpg&hash=541129e5e0b74ee46411ff418a8aa53bcc5c1ae2)
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: Henry on May 08, 2013, 11:52:50 AM
Quote from: getemngo on May 07, 2013, 05:48:03 PM
So strange that this bridge that closed 20 years ago was never replaced. (And remember, it only closed because construction of OH 7 mucked up the configuration of the west end. That's a weak excuse.)

Seconded! It shouldn't take more than five years, at least, to completely replace an old bridge. Compared to this, the Wilson Bridge replacement went by in a flash.
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: SteveG1988 on May 08, 2013, 04:04:50 PM
Quote from: Henry on May 08, 2013, 11:52:50 AM
Quote from: getemngo on May 07, 2013, 05:48:03 PM
So strange that this bridge that closed 20 years ago was never replaced. (And remember, it only closed because construction of OH 7 mucked up the configuration of the west end. That's a weak excuse.)

Seconded! It shouldn't take more than five years, at least, to completely replace an old bridge. Compared to this, the Wilson Bridge replacement went by in a flash.

What about the jamestown bridge? Closed in 1992, demolished in 1996.

Or the Egg Harbor bridge in NJ, closed in 2003 due to severe maintence issues.

Privately owned bridges take a while to demolish due to the hassles in closing it, then getting the bridge off the hands of the private owner, etc.

Picture in your mind a small town in anystate USA, What if John doe Sr. owns a large store in the middle of town and passes it onto his son John Doe Jr, Doe Jr. doesn't take care of the store like he should but it stays open, one day the state shuts the store down due to a book keeping issue where he was negligent in keeping the store afloat and it goes into bankruptcy, the store lies dormant. Every few years he tries to reopen it, but hurdles keep coming, the 1990s pass by, he has to get new counter equipment due to how outdated what he has is, the 2000s come about and he would have to gut the store to bring it upto modern codes, etc. The town wants the store opened or demolished due to it being an eyesore. Finally after 20 years the man decides to give up the fight and close it permamentaly and demolish the store, the town provides a loan to help it, but he cannot start on time, etc. Eventually after 22 years it is long gone.

People hate to use the word eminent domain, but that is what closing a privately owned toll bridge is like.

Hopefully my story made sense and helped people understand what is going on
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: Henry on May 09, 2013, 01:01:33 PM
Quote from: SteveG1988 on May 08, 2013, 04:04:50 PM
Quote from: Henry on May 08, 2013, 11:52:50 AM
Quote from: getemngo on May 07, 2013, 05:48:03 PM
So strange that this bridge that closed 20 years ago was never replaced. (And remember, it only closed because construction of OH 7 mucked up the configuration of the west end. That's a weak excuse.)

Seconded! It shouldn't take more than five years, at least, to completely replace an old bridge. Compared to this, the Wilson Bridge replacement went by in a flash.

What about the jamestown bridge? Closed in 1992, demolished in 1996.

Or the Egg Harbor bridge in NJ, closed in 2003 due to severe maintence issues.

Privately owned bridges take a while to demolish due to the hassles in closing it, then getting the bridge off the hands of the private owner, etc.

Picture in your mind a small town in anystate USA, What if John doe Sr. owns a large store in the middle of town and passes it onto his son John Doe Jr, Doe Jr. doesn't take care of the store like he should but it stays open, one day the state shuts the store down due to a book keeping issue where he was negligent in keeping the store afloat and it goes into bankruptcy, the store lies dormant. Every few years he tries to reopen it, but hurdles keep coming, the 1990s pass by, he has to get new counter equipment due to how outdated what he has is, the 2000s come about and he would have to gut the store to bring it upto modern codes, etc. The town wants the store opened or demolished due to it being an eyesore. Finally after 20 years the man decides to give up the fight and close it permamentaly and demolish the store, the town provides a loan to help it, but he cannot start on time, etc. Eventually after 22 years it is long gone.

People hate to use the word eminent domain, but that is what closing a privately owned toll bridge is like.

Hopefully my story made sense and helped people understand what is going on
Now I get it!
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: SteveG1988 on May 09, 2013, 05:47:57 PM
Quote from: Henry on May 09, 2013, 01:01:33 PM
Quote from: SteveG1988 on May 08, 2013, 04:04:50 PM
Quote from: Henry on May 08, 2013, 11:52:50 AM
Quote from: getemngo on May 07, 2013, 05:48:03 PM
So strange that this bridge that closed 20 years ago was never replaced. (And remember, it only closed because construction of OH 7 mucked up the configuration of the west end. That's a weak excuse.)

Seconded! It shouldn't take more than five years, at least, to completely replace an old bridge. Compared to this, the Wilson Bridge replacement went by in a flash.

What about the jamestown bridge? Closed in 1992, demolished in 1996.

Or the Egg Harbor bridge in NJ, closed in 2003 due to severe maintence issues.

Privately owned bridges take a while to demolish due to the hassles in closing it, then getting the bridge off the hands of the private owner, etc.

Picture in your mind a small town in anystate USA, What if John doe Sr. owns a large store in the middle of town and passes it onto his son John Doe Jr, Doe Jr. doesn't take care of the store like he should but it stays open, one day the state shuts the store down due to a book keeping issue where he was negligent in keeping the store afloat and it goes into bankruptcy, the store lies dormant. Every few years he tries to reopen it, but hurdles keep coming, the 1990s pass by, he has to get new counter equipment due to how outdated what he has is, the 2000s come about and he would have to gut the store to bring it upto modern codes, etc. The town wants the store opened or demolished due to it being an eyesore. Finally after 20 years the man decides to give up the fight and close it permamentaly and demolish the store, the town provides a loan to help it, but he cannot start on time, etc. Eventually after 22 years it is long gone.

People hate to use the word eminent domain, but that is what closing a privately owned toll bridge is like.

Hopefully my story made sense and helped people understand what is going on
Now I get it!

People kept forgetting that it was a PRIVATELY owned toll bridge, as such it is no different than them condemning a building, how many abandoned houses do you see in a town that are firehazards and will collapse under their own weight?
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: SteveG1988 on June 30, 2013, 10:18:27 AM
June 20th has come and gone, any signs of something happening?
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: BrianP on July 01, 2013, 09:59:10 AM
There's a conference call that's scheduled for tomorrow:
http://www.timesleaderonline.com/page/content.detail/id/547717/Bellaire--bridge--demo-eyed.html
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: BrianP on July 03, 2013, 01:18:34 PM
From that call there's a meeting set for July 16th:
http://www.wtrf.com/story/22748815/district-court-hearing-regarding-bellaire-bridge-results-in-mediation-meeting
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: SteveG1988 on July 03, 2013, 04:44:18 PM
And from the meeting there will be another call, perhaps to get a pizza, then there will be another meeting on what to get on the pizza, and then another meeting on how much to tip the delivery guy
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: Pete from Boston on July 03, 2013, 06:33:48 PM
Do you have any idea how long it's going to take design the "I was at the July 2013 Bellaire Bridge meeting" T-shirt?  That's its own four-hour meeting right there.
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: SteveG1988 on July 03, 2013, 09:11:26 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on July 03, 2013, 06:33:48 PM
Do you have any idea how long it's going to take design the "I was at the July 2013 Bellaire Bridge meeting" T-shirt?  That's its own four-hour meeting right there.

4 hours for the first meeting to determine the cotton-poly blend, then a 6 hr meeting for the font
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: BrianP on July 23, 2013, 11:34:38 AM
http://www.timesleaderonline.com/page/content.detail/id/548069/Charges-loom-against-bridge-owner.html?nav=5010

QuoteU.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley Tuesday set a criminal contempt hearing for Bellaire Bridge owner Lee Chaklos after learning Chaklos apparently failed to disclose that there are $1.5 million worth of liens against the span, according to lawyer Dan Guida.

The criminal contempt hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 10, court officials with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio confirmed.
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: SteveG1988 on July 23, 2013, 05:12:55 PM
Quote from: BrianP on July 23, 2013, 11:34:38 AM
http://www.timesleaderonline.com/page/content.detail/id/548069/Charges-loom-against-bridge-owner.html?nav=5010

QuoteU.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley Tuesday set a criminal contempt hearing for Bellaire Bridge owner Lee Chaklos after learning Chaklos apparently failed to disclose that there are $1.5 million worth of liens against the span, according to lawyer Dan Guida.

The criminal contempt hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 10, court officials with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio confirmed.

Honestly, will it ever come down, or will the bridge owners keep going to court just to keep it from coming down?
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: Pete from Boston on July 23, 2013, 09:45:32 PM
Quote from: SteveG1988 on May 08, 2013, 04:04:50 PMWhat about the jamestown bridge? Closed in 1992, demolished in 1996.

You're ten years off.  The Jamestown Bridge lasted until 2006. 
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: BrianP on September 10, 2013, 05:28:08 PM
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/589440/Contempt-Hearing-Delayed-For-Bellaire-Bridge-Owner.html?nav=515
QuoteA criminal contempt hearing set for next week for Bellaire Bridge owner Lee Chaklos has been continued, according to Dan Guida, attorney representing the city of Benwood.
Quote"The new date will likely be sometime in October."
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: getemngo on September 10, 2013, 09:03:44 PM
Quote"The new date will likely be sometime in October."

That means March 2014 at the earliest.  :)
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: thenetwork on September 10, 2013, 09:33:29 PM
One must wonder if Maty Maroun (of the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit) has any connection with the Bellaire Bridge!!!   :bigass:
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: SteveG1988 on September 25, 2013, 06:25:59 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on July 23, 2013, 09:45:32 PM
Quote from: SteveG1988 on May 08, 2013, 04:04:50 PMWhat about the jamestown bridge? Closed in 1992, demolished in 1996.

You're ten years off.  The Jamestown Bridge lasted until 2006. 

Yeah, i relized that, i don't know where my mind was that far back.

Any meaningful update? I mean, did they pick out the material of the safety vests the workers will have to wear while working around it?
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: BrianP on September 26, 2013, 10:02:23 AM
Not until October 11th:
http://www.wtrf.com/story/23463891/court-date-set-for-owner-of-bellaire-bridge-on-contempt-charges
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: BrianP on October 17, 2013, 01:59:11 PM
QuoteThe case involving Bellaire Bridge owner Lee Chaklos is set for federal trial in Columbus next month after Chaklos pleaded innocent to an indictment charge of criminal contempt.

Chaklos had been scheduled to appear before the court on Oct. 11 for a show cause hearing on the criminal contempt charge.

But in an order filed Friday, Judge Algenon L. Marbley of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio continued the Oct. 11 hearing, noting Chaklos had pleaded innocent.

The judge's order set Chaklos' new court date for 10 a.m. Nov. 12 with a pre-trial conference set for 3 p.m. Nov. 5.
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/590771/Trial-Set-for-Bellaire-Bridge-Owner.html?nav=510
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: BrianP on November 18, 2013, 01:53:23 PM
QuoteJudge Algenon L. Marbley did not offer a ruling Wednesday at the conclusion of the trial. He instead gave counsel in the case until Dec. 9 to submit briefs, and each attorney has until Dec. 16 to respond to the opposing brief, according to Guida.
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/592193.html
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: Crazy Volvo Guy on December 06, 2013, 12:38:12 PM
Hopefully this can stay tied up in court until someone comes forward with cash and the intention of preserving or even better, reopening it.  A bridge that was not closed due to structural issues should not be demolished.
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: SteveG1988 on December 06, 2013, 12:51:03 PM
Quote from: Crazy Volvo Guy on December 06, 2013, 12:38:12 PM
Hopefully this can stay tied up in court until someone comes forward with cash and the intention of preserving or even better, reopening it.  A bridge that was not closed due to structural issues should not be demolished.

The problem is...it has issues now due to the fact that it has not had maintence in decades. To restore it would require more money than the bridge is worth to people, since it doesn't actually connect to anything any more, and to do so would require a lot of work
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: getemngo on December 06, 2013, 09:12:56 PM
Quote from: SteveG1988 on December 06, 2013, 12:51:03 PM
Quote from: Crazy Volvo Guy on December 06, 2013, 12:38:12 PM
Hopefully this can stay tied up in court until someone comes forward with cash and the intention of preserving or even better, reopening it.  A bridge that was not closed due to structural issues should not be demolished.

The problem is...it has issues now due to the fact that it has not had maintence in decades. To restore it would require more money than the bridge is worth to people, since it doesn't actually connect to anything any more, and to do so would require a lot of work

It would be interesting to see how much work it needs, especially when it was in pristine condition when it closed. (For instance, salt was never used on its surface.) But I'm stumped as to how you'd connect the west end to the streets that are there now - that's why it closed in the first place, because the current OH 7 disrupted its path. It could be preserved as a landmark, maybe, but restoring vehicle traffic would take more than it's worth.
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: BrianP on March 31, 2014, 05:09:52 PM
Bankruptcy for Bridge Owners
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/597624.html
QuoteOwners of the Bellaire Bridge have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a move that means they must soon liquidate all the assets of their company, the Delta Demolition Group Inc.
QuoteLee and Krystal Chaklos of Virginia Beach, Va., however, own the bridge through a separate company, KDC Investments.
QuoteBriefs in the criminal contempt case were filed by attorneys in December, and Judge Algenon Marbley has yet to rule in the matter.
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: BrianP on October 30, 2014, 05:33:48 PM
Bridge Owner Found Guilty of criminal contempt (http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/615783.html)
QuoteBenwood officials believe legal matters will delay the bridge's demolition for the foreseeable future.
QuoteLongwell said the city's best chance for demolition would have to come via help from federal or state government, and city leaders do have a case to present to them.
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: SteveG1988 on September 15, 2015, 08:51:45 AM
Still no changes.
Latest news article was in regards to the last post on this subject.


http://www.wtrf.com/story/28104732/owner-of-bellaire-bridge-sentenced-to-30-days-in-prison
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: Pete from Boston on September 15, 2015, 09:42:34 AM
I feel like the thread title needs to be changed.
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: BrianP on May 01, 2018, 12:29:07 PM
Let's try this again shall we?
http://wtov9.com/news/local/could-the-bellaire-bridge-soon-come-down

QuoteBenwood Police Chief Frank Longwell said a judge ordered a feasibility study on the bridge. He hopes once that study is complete, the dilapidated bridge will be torn down.
QuoteLongwell says the feasibility study will probably take place within the next month.
Similar story:
http://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2018/03/u-s-district-judge-reopens-talks-on-bellaire-bridge/

Of course this was back in March so it's already been almost two months since then. 
Title: Re: Bellaire Bridge to finally be demolished
Post by: SteveG1988 on May 02, 2018, 10:24:03 PM
Someone should make a website like the old abe vigoda one, where it will just say "bellaire bridge Up" or "bellaire bridge down"