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years he tries to reopen it, but hurdles keep coming, the 1990s pass by, he has to get new counter equipment due to how outdated what he has is, the 2000s come about and he would have to gut the store to bring it upto modern codes, etc.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
