Fall 2024 – KEM in the News
KEM in the News
Mansfield’s New Bridge at North Lake Park Features Repurposed Sandstone (richlandsource.com)
‘The city has salvaged sandstone from the foundations of buildings being demolished with the idea of repurposing it,’ Bob Bianchi said.
MANSFIELD — Residents may recognize some parts of the new sandstone veneer at the new bridge in North Lake Park.
But they will need to look close.
That’s because the vast majority of the sandstone used in the new bridge was repurposed from other structures in Mansfield, according to city engineer Bob Bianchi.
“Over time, the city has salvaged sandstone from the foundations of buildings being demolished and also retaining walls with the idea of repurposing it in projects like this,” he said.
The bridge project, done by Adena Corp. of Mansfield for $854,940, was completed late last week and the road was opened on Friday, Bianchi said.
“I can’t tell you how pleased I am with the work Adena did on this project,” he said.
“The bridge is absolutely beautiful and I am excited for people to enjoy it for many decades to come,” Bianchi said.
The engineer cited work done by Adena employees Shawn Guegold, Scott Blum and Alec Bender. “They took great care in installing the sandstone,” the engineer said.
The more complicated caps of the sandstone veneer were the only parts not done using repurposed material, he said.
The new bridge’s sandstone veneer is similar to the new arched bridge that sits just to the east at North Lake Park. That arched bridge was replaced in 2021.
Work on the project began in late May and most of the access roads into the 20-acre park were closed during the project to replace a double-box bridge on the park’s west side.
Bianchi had said the foundations of the old bridge were more than 100 years old.
The bridge was widened to two boxes about 70 years ago and the decks have been replaced over time. There have been repairs over the years. It was just time to replace it,” he said.
Adena was one of two companies that submitted bids for the project this spring, which had been estimated at $975,000. Great Lakes Demolition of Clyde had bid $1,123,639 in an effort to get the job.
The Control Board also awarded a contract up to $98,000 to K.E. McCartney & Associates of Mansfield to provide inspection services for the project.
Mansfield City Council approved the project in March, paid for from the city’s sewer fund.
The old double-box bridge was replaced by a single, wider box culvert.
“Right now, that double box acts as debris catch,” Bianchi said earlier this year. “It fills up with debris and prevents water from flowing through it.”