West Orange Road BridgeLiberty Township, Delaware County
The West Orange Road Bridge (constructed in 1898) is located in southern Delaware County, and is situated in the Olentangy Heritage Corridor, a state-designated scenic byway. The structure is one of a dwindling number of Pratt Through Truss bridges in the state, and is the last one built by the Toledo Bridge Company which still serves as a vehicular bridge. It is also the only bridge in all of Delaware County that was not destroyed at the time of the infamous 1913 flood.
The bridge is currently the focus of County efforts to widen and/or change the configuration of West Orange Road as it connects with SR 315. Possible scenarios for the bridge created by the county engineer’s office call for changing the road configuration and building a new span over the Olentangy in a variety of possible settings, or even removal of the bridge altogether. Supporters of the bridge, however, note that these plans would have a negative impact on the Olentangy Heritage Corridor (in that a modern, adjacent span would greatly reduce the historic integrity of the bridge and its setting), and that a proposed roundabout would not be in keeping with the meandering river trail aspect of the area, a feature which still reflects its original Indian trail origin. It is also suspected that this is a precursor to widening West Orange Road, which would, in turn, further damage the historic setting of the bridge.
Southern Delaware County is at a crossroads. As historic houses disappear along US 23 and adjacent roads, cookie-cutter commercial and residential developments spring up, and the last elements of character are removed, the area seems destined to become the next piece of Just Anywhere, USA. Now even a state designated scenic byway is facing the loss of elements that help to give it significance, as officials considering ways to accommodate higher levels of traffic, instead of fashioning creative approaches to safeguard the unique nature of this corridor.
Links for Additional Information:
National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, West Orange Road/Thomas Bridge
Orange Road Bridge Project Website - Delaware County Engineer's Office
County to realign West Orange Road, widen bridge - This Week Community Newspapers
Additional Photos (click for larger photo):
Google Maps view of the West Orange Road Bridge