Press Release
Public Notice: County Route 126 bridge over Tinkers Creek
PID: 120795 CR126
Jul 16, 2026 - Twinsburg, Oh
The Summit County Engineer’s Office, in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Transportation and City of Twinsburg, proposes to replace the Glenwood Drive, County Route 126, bridge over Tinkers Creek in the City of Twinsburg.
The purpose of the project is to provide a safe and reliable roadway structure over Tinkers Creek. The existing structure was constructed in 1958 and is a load-posted, three-span, non-composite prestressed concrete box beam structure. The need for the project is based on deterioration identified in the existing structure, including poor substructure condition, delamination, spalls, cracking at piers, and erosion near the concrete slope protection and along the channel banks.
The proposed project will replace the existing bridge with a new 93-foot single-span bridge. The project includes demolition of the existing bridge, construction of the new bridge, associated roadway improvements, wingwalls, and rock channel protection.
A 6-foot-wide sidewalk will be constructed across the south side of the bridge. Decorative features will include concrete and metal railing, with form liners and stains
used to mimic stone-textured surfaces. Post-top, lantern-style pedestrian lighting will be mounted on the bridge railings and will be Dark-Sky compliant to minimize up-lighting or
back-lighting into the stream.
Detour of Road Closure
The bridge closure and associated detour are currently anticipated to begin in Fall 2027 and remain in place for approximately 12 months.
During construction, Glenwood Drive will be closed at the bridge, and traffic will be detoured to Officer Joshua T. Miktarian Memorial Parkway via Ravenna Road and Darrow Road (SR 91). Local access will be maintained where feasible, and the project team will coordinate with emergency service providers, public service providers, Summit County, ODOT, and the City of Twinsburg prior to construction.
Environmental Considerations
The existing Glenwood Drive bridge provides summer roosting habitat for bats. ODOT has coordinated with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Ohio Department of Natural Resources regarding potential effects to federally listed and proposed bat species. The project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the Indiana bat, northern longeared bat, and tricolored bat.
Avoidance and minimization measures include limiting tree removal and bridge demolition activities to seasonal windows when bats are not expected to be roosting,
installing artificial bat roosting structures near the bridge and on the new bridge, and using Dark-Sky-compliant bridge lighting to eliminate potential uplighting.
Waterway Impacts
Project construction will result in minor impacts to two wetlands, Tinker’s Creek, and a small unnamed stream.
Center Valley Park
The project will require approximately 0.21 acre of land from the adjacent Center Valley Park, owned by the City of Twinsburg. The land is needed for construction access, to encompass the bridge improvements, including wingwalls and rock channel protection, and to allow for future inspection and maintenance activities. The park land to be acquired provides passive recreational use, with no park features present within the acquisition area except for Tinkers Creek. The driveway and parking lot for Center Valley Park adjacent to Glenwood Drive are outside the construction limits.
Center Valley Park is a recognized recreational property and is provided protection from adverse impacts associated with federal-aid transportation projects.
The Summit County Engineer’s Office has consulted with the City of Twinsburg regarding project impacts and received concurrence that the project will not adversely affect the recreational activities, features, or attributes that qualify Center Valley Park for
protection. The following measures to minimize harm are being implemented as part of the project:
- Access to the park shall be maintained at all times during construction activities via flagging operations and/or an approved detour.
- Temporary construction fencing shall be installed along proposed construction limits prior to the start of construction activities to protect the park and the public.
- Appropriate signage shall be installed to alert users of the park of construction activities, access restrictions or closures, and to direct users to secondary access points.
- The contractor shall be required to closely coordinate the construction schedule with ODOT, Summit County, and the City of Twinsburg prior to the start of construction activities.
Due to the permanent acquisition of land from the Center Valley Park, the Summit County Engineer’s Office is seeking public input regarding the proposed impacts.
How to Comment
Please provide comments to:
Alan Brubaker, P.E., P.S.
Summit County Engineer
538 E. South Street
Akron, OH 44311-1843
ATTN: Ron Spano, Project Manager
Email: rspano@summitengineer.net
Phone: (330) 643-8453
Comments must be received by August 18, 2026.
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability. Individuals who require interpretation, translation, or other accommodations to review project information or submit comments should contact Ron Spano at the contact information provided above.
