The Orange Road Bridge is located just north of Powell, Ohio over the Olentangy River. The maps below show the study area and the location of the bridge relative to southern Delaware County.

> Maps of study area and bridge location

The purpose of the project is to provide a safe and efficient river crossing for the traveling public. The project is necessary because the existing bridge is structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. There are also several secondary goals and objectives, separate from the purpose and need, to safely and effectively accommodate traffic in the area.

The process for the project includes eight basic steps. It is anticipated that by the end of 2006, a final alternative will be determined. Although much depends on coordination with other public agencies, construction will likely begin in 2008, and take about 12 months to complete.

Historic nature of the bridge
Constructed in 1898, the Orange Road Bridge is a Pratt through truss bridge constructed by The Toledo Bridge Company and designed by Delaware County Deputy Engineer John B. Taggart. It is only one of two bridges of its type identified in Ohio and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The engineering significance of this bridge is that it is the only bridge to survive the major flood in 1913 – a flood that had damaged or destroyed 26 bridges throughout the county, half of which were on the Olentangy River.

Taggart recognized the Orange Road Bridge was located in a broad floodplain, so he designed 24-foot abutments, which were built higher than normal during that time. The added elevation was enough to save the bridge.

The Orange Road Bridge undoubtedly played an important role in local communications in wake of the flood.