A Tuscarawas County bridge has been closed indefinitely after inspectors discovered significant cracking in a beam previously damaged by a vehicle hauling heavy machinery.
The Ohio Department of Transportation announced Tuesday, Oct. 13, that the Barnhill Road bridge, also known as County Road 68, over U.S. Route 250 in Midvale is closed to all traffic effective immediately.
According to ODOT, the bridge was struck several weeks ago by a vehicle transporting heavy machinery, damaging multiple beams.
Following the collision, traffic was restricted to one lane with temporary traffic signals while crews continued monitoring the structure.
During an inspection Tuesday, ODOT workers discovered significant cracking in one of the damaged beams, prompting the immediate closure as a precaution.
The ramps connecting Barnhill Road and U.S. Route 250 remain open, but motorists cannot cross the bridge. All lanes of U.S. Route 250 also remain open.
ODOT officials said they are developing a permanent repair solution, but a timeline for reopening the bridge has not been established.
Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes until repairs can be completed.
Additional updates will be provided as repair plans are finalized.
