AKRON, OH — A major milestone was reached on the State Route 8 bridge replacement project in Akron, Ohio, as crews began erecting the new structure using the "bridge launching" method. This marks the first instance of a bridge being launched on an Ohio Department of Transportation project.

The method involves crews building the bridge in sections on the ground and slowly rolling each section from one pier (vertical support column) to the next into its final position. Bridge launching was determined to be a more cost efficient and safer option for this project than conventional steel erection. Crews construct each section on the ground and avoid being suspended in the air.

The first section of the bridge that was launched is 196 feet in length and took approximately five to six hours to reach its final placement. Each section was pushed from pier to pier using rollers and hydraulic jacks, which moved each section at about 40 feet per hour.

After the first launch was completed, crews began assembling the structural steel of the next section, which is 230 feet in length. A total of six launches — totaling 1,600 feet and 8.2 million pounds of steel — will take place for the SR 8 southbound structure, with the last one expected in January 2025.

Upon completion of the southbound bridge, all SR 8 traffic will be shifted on the bridge and work will begin on the northbound bridge. It is anticipated that bridge launching for the northbound bridge will begin in 2026.

The current SR 8 bridge was built in 1953 and carries over 114,000 vehicles per day. This bridge has undergone many repairs, and it has been deemed more cost efficient to replace the bridge rather than keep up the maintenance of the current bridge.

This $158 million project began in August 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2028.