©NPS Collection

The Fitzwater Bridge Over the Cuyahoga River

Fitzwater Road extends from Canal Road west, and ends at the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad maintenance yard. Along this segment of the road there are two bridges, the Fitzwater Truss Bridge, the Waste Weir Bridge and a culvert. The Fitzwater Truss Bridge was constructed in 1922. It is approximately 200 feet long and 28 feet wide and carries Fitzwater Road over the Cuyahoga River. The Waste Weir Bridge was constructed in 1922 and is approximately 76 feet long and 29 feet wide. It carries Fitzwater Road over the Canal spillway wastewater flume. A concrete box culvert, located between the two bridges, carries Fitzwater Road over the Ohio & Erie Canal.

The National Park Service, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, has completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) that analyzes the potential impacts of rehabilitating and/or replacing the Fitzwater Truss Bridge and the Waste Weir Bridge. The construction of a new trailhead and associated parking area at the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail and miscellaneous improvements to Fitzwater Road are also analyzed.

Replacing both bridges on a new alignment was determined to be the preferred alternative. Fitzwater Road would be re-aligned to create a four-way intersection with Canal Road.
View proposed alignment.

You are invited to review the Environment Assessment. The project information can now be viewed online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. The NPS and FHWA have selected the preferred alternative (Alternative D, Option 1). A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed on August 29, 2008.

The design work is complete and the construction work is scheduled to begin in 2009.

For more information, please contact Robert W. Bobel, Project Manager at (440) 546-5972.