Ohio 568 reopening delayed

FINDLAY — The reopening of Ohio 568 east of Findlay, which had been closed for improvements on two bridges, has been delayed for one week, to Aug. 8, state officials said Tuesday. The postponement is due to complications on the bridge farther east and over Glauner Ditch between County Road 236 and County Road 237. The original plan was to simply overlay the approach slabs on the bridge. However, hydro demolition revealed that the approach slabs were in worse shape and need complete replacement, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) reported. Both that bridge and one to the west, over the Blanchard River and located between Township Road 234 and County Road 236, will be reopened Aug. 8. That's because both bridges are scheduled to be paved Aug. 6-7, and then striped on Aug. 8. If one bridge were opened before the other, the state would incur multiple mobilization fees to get the paver and striping equipment to come at different dates, ODOT reported. The $2 million in improvements to the two bridges began in May. The work has included overlaying the bridge decks, replacing the approach slabs and deck edges, and patching and sealing concrete surfaces. The closings have frustrated numerous motorists from Findlay who are used to traveling on Ohio 568 to reach Riverbend Recreation Area. Riverbend-bound motorists from Findlay can bypass the bridge closings by turning south onto County Road 237 from U.S. 224 (Tiffin Avenue). County Road 237 ends at Ohio 568, where motorists can turn left toward Riverbend.