Rail Line Closed Over Bridge Concern

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transportation Authority has extended the shutdown of Waterfront Line rail service indefinitely over safety concerns related to a bridge on the route.

The 2.2-mile line has been shut down since October 2020 for a track rehab project, but an RTA statement says an inspection determined the structure needed four interim support towers for stabilization. Cracks in the structure had been found during a 2018 inspection, leading rail traffic on the bridge limited to one train at a time. 

Service will not resume until a permanent solution is built. Ruhlin Construction has received an emergency contract for the support towers, to be completed by late October. The project is expected to take two years.