KS Associates is the Prime Consultant for a pedestrian bridge that will complete the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Trail. The engineering design team consists of WSP USA, NTH Consultants, and RWDI Consulting Engineers and Scientists.
The Cleveland Foundation Centennial Trail ties into the 85-mile historic Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. When the bridge is constructed, the Towpath Trail will become a 100-mile path from New Philadelphia, Ohio, to Lake Erie.
The bridge will connect to the Centennial Trail at the northwest corner of the Willow Avenue Vertical Lift Bridge over the Cuyahoga River. It will carry pedestrians and bicyclists over industrial properties and Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks, then terminate at Wendy Park on the south end of Whiskey Island.
The engineering team is designing the approximately 500-foot-long bridge structure and approaches. Services include designing the bridge alignment, typical sections, abutments, at-grade bridge approaches including a retaining wall, vandal-protection fencing, hand rail, a single-slope concrete barrier drainage system for both approaches, and modifications to Salt Road (Old River Road). The engineering team also assisted in administering a public meeting to gain valuable stakeholder feedback.
KS Associates also provided surveying and 3D laser scanning services for the project. Laser scanning offered several advantages over conventional surveying by obtaining data without setting foot on active railroad property. In addition to improving safety, laser scanning eliminated the time-consuming and costly process of obtaining a railroad right-of-entry permit. Laser scanning also provided the design team with large amounts of detail about existing conditions, helping to accelerate the project schedule and enhance the design process.
The project is underway.
