A major milestone was reached today on the State Route 8 bridge replacement project in Akron, as crews began erecting the new structure using the ‘bridge launching’ method. This marks the first instance of a bridge being launched on an ODOT 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.