Demolition of I-75 overpass in Cincinnati resumes after collapse

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By Dan Sewell Associated Press Thursday January 22, 2015 6:33 AM

CINCINNATI Highway construction work resumed in Cincinnati even as investigations continue into the deadly collapse of an overpass exit ramp that was being demolished, Ohio transportation officials said yesterday.

The southbound lanes of I-75 re-opened Tuesday night, nearly 24 hours after a worker was killed in the overpass collapse, which covered the lanes with tons of concrete and steel.

The Ohio Department of Transportation had postponed other bridge work on Tuesday night, but it planned to close all northbound lanes from 11 p.m. yesterday until 5 a.m. today in a section north of downtown. The interstates lanes may be closed at other times as needed for work thats part of a three-year project scheduled to end in June 2016.

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators have been at the site, and other authorities are also probing the accident.

Transportation Department spokesman Brian Cunningham said the contractor, Kokosing Construction of Westerville, cleared the debris more quickly than expected, allowing inspections on Tuesday evening that found only a small pothole that needed repair.

There was very little damage to the roadway, he said.

Kokosings $91 million contract for the project makes it liable for any damages caused by the traffic shutdown. Cunningham said assessing damages against the contractor will be part of the investigation.

Kokosing official John Householder said in a statement yesterday that the construction company will work with the authorities to investigate and determine the cause of the collapse.

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Demolition of I-75 overpass in Cincinnati resumes after collapse