West Avenue Bridge Removal; PID 120306
West Avenue Bridge Removal; PID 120306
The City of Youngstown proposes to permanently remove the bridge (Structure No. 5060524) that formerly carried West Avenue over the Mahoning River in the City of Youngstown, Mahoning County.
The proposed project is currently in the environmental engineering phase which includes environmental studies and demolition plan and temporary access fill plan development. No permanent and temporary right-of-way is required from private property owners for this project.
This site is a self-guided tour through a series of tabs that highlight the proposed project.
Begin by reviewing the PROJECT OVERVIEW discussion in the section below. To advance between pages, click on the blue CONTINUE button located at the bottom of each page. You can also move between pages by clicking the blue tabs at the top of the discussion section. If you would like to see larger versions of any of the graphics, click on the image and a larger version will pop up on the screen. Additional project-related materials will be posted under the DOCUMENTS section on the right-hand side below as they become available.
If you need any interpretation or translation services or other reasonable accommodations to review these materials, please contact Chuck Shasho, Deputy Director Department of Public Works, at 330-742-8800 or publicworks@youngstownohio.gov. There is also a "Translate" button in the banner of this webpage.
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by ODOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and the Memorandum of Understanding dated May 8, 2026 and executed by FHWA and ODOT and the Memorandum of Understanding dated December 3, 2024, and executed by FRA and ODOT. For more information please visit ODOT's NEPA Assignment Portal.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
History
The West Avenue bridge is a 286-foot-long single-span steel Baltimore through truss, built in 1929 with built-up riveted members. It has a horizontal roadway width of 17 feet 4 inches, making the structure unsuitable for two-way traffic. The bridge has been closed to traffic since July 25, 1986, due to the critical section loss of numerous structural members. Both ends of the bridge are currently barricaded to prevent vehicles and pedestrians from entering, but the bridge still poses a safety hazard to trespassing pedestrians.
The Ohio Department of Transportation has determined that this Baltimore through truss bridge is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for its engineering significance as an example of early 20th-century steel truss bridge design and as one of only a limited number of Baltimore through truss bridges remaining in Ohio.
Purpose & Need
The purpose of this project is to eliminate the safety hazard that the existing deteriorated and structurally deficient West Avenue Bridge over the Mahoning River poses to recreational users of the river and pedestrians.
Need Elements:
- Advanced structural deterioration (section loss & rust through)
- The General Appraisal of the bridge is zero, and the sufficiency rating is 23.1.
- Rating indicates demolition or major rehabilitation is required
- Deteriorated bridge is a current and future maintenance liability
- Safety concern for recreational users of the Mahoning River and pedestrians
Public Involvement
The City of Youngstown is soliciting public input on the the proposed permanent bridge removal. Public input is an important part of the project process and will be used to help guide decision-making. The virtual public open house is open from August 12, 2026 through September 11, 2026. Questions and comments may be submitted anytime to publicworks@youngstownohio.gov. See the "PRESENTATION AND SUBMIT COMMENTS" tab for more information.
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