The city of Delaware is working with the Ohio Department of Transportation to complete an over-height detection and warning system for the CSX railroad bridge on West Central Avenue between Morning Street and Euclid Avenue.

The city received two bids for the project but each was more than half a million dollars, which exceeded the original budget, city spokesman Lee Yoakum said.

“Public Works staff is working with ODOT to develop a modified scope and project approach to be able to complete improvements,” he said.

“We still are planning to complete the project in 2017,” Yoakum added.

Residents call the railroad bridge the “can-opener” due to it causing 30 accidents and 75 turnarounds since 2010, costing the city $15,000 for emergency response, traffic control and cleaning up debris as of September, according to The Gazette’s previous reports.

The project is funded with $215,000 from the Ohio Department of Transportation and $100,000 from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

The system was to be installed last summer, but pushed into this year after the project’s scope changed to include more detection systems and signage with the planning time extended.

The over-height detection system could reduce the number of can-opener incidents by 65 to 70 percent, according to ODOT.

This truck was a victim of the “can opener” on Sept. 4, 2015. Delaware City Council approved new laser detection and warning system to prevent many of the traffic issues at the so called “can-opener” on West Central Avenue in the city more than a year ago. City and ODOT officials are modifying the scope of the project, but still plan to complete it in 2017.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/04/web1_Can-Opener-sept4-1.jpgThis truck was a victim of the “can opener” on Sept. 4, 2015. Delaware City Council approved new laser detection and warning system to prevent many of the traffic issues at the so called “can-opener” on West Central Avenue in the city more than a year ago. City and ODOT officials are modifying the scope of the project, but still plan to complete it in 2017.