Stowsentry.com - Munroe Falls closes pedestrian walkway of Route 91 bridge; road will remain open

Munroe Falls officials Wednesday closed the Route 91 pedestrian bridge to foot traffic, citing concerns the handrail on east side of the bridge is unsafe due to rust and corrosion.
The bridge, which spans the Cuyahoga River in Munroe Falls, will continue to be open to vehicular traffic.
The service department placed temporary barricades to block the walkway at 11:30 a.m., said Service Director Larry Valentine.
The 45-year old bridge structure was recently given a "satisfactory" rating by the Ohio Department of Transportation, which originally built the bridge. The pedestrian walkway, later added by Summit County officials, first appeared on the county engineer's drawings in 1978, according to ODOT district spokesperson Paula Putnam.
The city has no plans to reopen the bridge's only walkway unless the handrail can be repaired or replaced.
Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to use the approximately 2-foot berm of the road, next to the walkway, Valentine said.
ODOT has slated the bridge for resurfacing next year, at which point the city hopes a new handrail will be installed, he said.
For more information, see the Oct. 12 issue of the Stow Sentry.