Norfolk Southern is gearing up to replace a failing railroad bridge that carries trains over Superior Avenue in Cleveland, a project that will reshape the blocks near East 38th and East 39th and almost certainly bring months of construction, detours, and overnight work. The railroad says it will pick up the full tab for the replacement, but it still needs the city to sign off before crews can get started. Neighbors and drivers are being told to expect changes to sidewalks and lane layouts as the bridge support columns are shifted.
According to Cleveland.com, Norfolk Southern's engineering plans call for rem oving the existing steel columns, installing new supports outside the street line and adding a new support column at the avenue's centerline. The railroad told the outlet its bridges are inspected at least once a year. Cleveland City Council documents state that ordinance 770-2026 would give the railroad consent to move ahead with the work and describe the project as being carried out "at no cost to the City," according to Cleveland City Council.
Why City Officials Pushed For The Fix
The bridge swap is one piece of a much larger problem the city has been flagging. A Cleveland review of 99 railroad bridges found 23 with critical failings, and the Bibb administration followed up by issuing formal violation notices to Norfolk Southern and CSX in September 2023, the City of Cleveland said. The administration also sent that report to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the Federal Railroad Administration as part of a broader push to force repairs to aging rail infrastructure, according to the city's statement at the City of Cleveland.
Timeline And Road Impacts
Construction on the Superior Avenue bridge could start in September if City Council signs off and permits are approved, with work split into phases over multiple weeks, Cleveland.com reported. Moving the bridge supports off the sidewalk and adding a centerline column will likely mean temporary lane and sidewalk closures, overnight construction and local detours while the span is swapped out. City presentations included in the Council packet outline a phasing plan that is intended to keep traffic moving, even as crews work overhead.
What Comes Next
City Council had the ordinance on its July 15 agenda. If members approve Ordinance 770-2026, the Director of Capital Projects would be authorized to enter into agreements with Norfolk Southern, and the city would oversee permits and traffic control plans, according to Cleveland City Council. Because the city has already issued violation notices and forwarded its findings to PUCO and the FRA, regulators and neighborhood groups are expected to keep a close eye on how the bridge is built, how it is inspected, and what ongoing maintenance looks like, the city has said.
