Report: Bridge demolition flawed, ODOT leader says

The state's top transportation official says a contractor's review of the Hopple Street overpass demolition plan likely was flawed, according to a report.(Photo: The Enquirer/Liz Dufour)Buy Photo

The state's top transportation official says something was flawed in the demolition of the old Hopple Street overpass the first public comments from a state official about last month's incident that killed a construction worker.

"We had a plan and it failed," Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jerry Wray told state lawmakers Tuesday, according to a report by Gongwer, an online-only, independent statehouse news service.

Wray briefly addressed the Interstate 75 bridge collapse incident while speaking to members of the House Finance Committee about the state's $5.9 billion transportation budget proposal. Lawmakers asked Wray questions about crumbling bridge infrastructure across the state, but Rep. Alicia Reece, D-Bond Hill, then asked ODOT's leader about the Jan. 19 Hopple overpass collapse that killed a Kokosing Construction Co. foreman, according to Gongwer.

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Wray told lawmakers ODOT's investigation is ongoing, and the state doesn't know exactly what went wrong yet in the demolition process.

Gongwer also reported Wray said another contractor reviewed the demolition plans.

ODOT officials clarified to The Enquirer on Wednesday that an independent engineer has not yet fully reviewed the plan, and Wray was referring to Kokosing's two engineers who developed, approved and reviewed the demolition plan.

Columbus-based Kokosing is the lead contractor on a $91 million project that is remaking a part of I-75, including building the new Hopple Street interchange.

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Report: Bridge demolition flawed, ODOT leader says