State to inspect Edison Bridge

PORT CLINTON — The Thomas Edison Memorial Bridge will be among several locations on Ohio 2 to receive safety inspections next week. Specifically, inspectors with the Ohio Department of Transportation will check:• Ohio 2, between Lightner and Martins Point roads, over the Sandusky Bay, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday• Ohio 2, between Ohio 163 and Ohio 53, over the Portage River, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on TuesdayTraffic on the state route may be restricted to one lane in each direction during the inspections. "We inspect all of our bridges on an annual basis," ODOT spokeswoman Rebecca Shirling said. "The majority of the bridge inspections are completed without the public knowing (because) there is no impact on traffic."Shirling said some inspections, such as these two in Ottawa County, require a specialized truck called a snooper to access the underside of bridges. "When using this machine, we have to close one lane of traffic for the safety of the crew working," Shirling said. Shirling explained the importance of crews routinely inspecting bridges along state routes. "Inspections allow us to assess bridge conditions on a yearly basis to look for minor deficiencies and excessive wear and tear," Shirling said. "Correcting minor deficiencies early can extend the service life of structures and reduce the overall cost of maintaining structures. Inspections annually also ensure the safety of the traveling public."Reach reporter Patrick Pfanner at pfanner@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @PatPfanner and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterThe Thomas Edison Memorial Bridge in June 2016.Cars pass under the Lightner Road overpass on Ohio 2 in 2015. Portions of Ohio 2 will undergo safety checks by the Ohio Department of Transportation.