News

The Oxbow Bridge on Richland Avenue reopened to traffic Tuesday evening just in time for the new school year.

The bridge has been closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for months since renovations began on May 6. The Oxbow Trail is expected to reopen Wednesday evening.

Reconstruction efforts stayed on pace to finish before fall semester, so there was never any doubt the project would be completed on time, said Andy Stone, director of the Athens Department of Engineering and Public Works.

“They were always on schedule or ahead of schedule,” Stone said.

Renovations completed include the construction of concrete sidewalks, bridge deck, utility vault roofs and approach slabs, as well as installation of interior railing between the road and the sidewalk) and reconstruction of approach pavement. The project cost around $3.1 million.

Further construction work underneath the bridge will continue and is expected to be completed in October. The underside needs painted and electrical wiring and renovations to the bridge’s facade is included in that $3.1 million, Stone said.

Stone hopes the renovations will be finished by Halloween.

For months, vehicles heading to Court Street were detoured through Shafer and West Union Streets, but on Wednesday, traffic will open up again as usual. traffic will open up again as usual.