BUCYRUS — After being closed due to concrete falling from a railroad overpass, East Mansfield Street is open to traffic.
Saturday, at approximately 2 p.m., a piece of concrete fell from the easternmost railway that travels over East Mansfield Street, causing city officials to close the road until confirmation it was safe for motorists to travel under the bridge again.
According to a release from Bucyrus city officials, employees of Norfolk-Southern responded to the scene Saturday to inspect and restore the underside of the bridge. City officials spoke to a Norfolk-Southern supervisor who said the bridge was structurally sound and safe for railroad traffic and the concrete was described as cosmetic scaling.
Additional loose concrete was inspected and removed from the structure.
The release said city officials have been in contact with railroad officials for multiple years, regarding the safety and appearance of the bridges.
“This is frustrating since we know that the appearance of the structures are unattractive,” it said. “The railroads are primarily concerned about structural safety.”
On Saturday, Bucyrus Police Officer John Seif said the concrete would have been enough to take out a windshield and cause serious injury.