As the Wayne County Lightfest begins in Hines Park, bridges along Hines Drive remain closed.
The county closed four bridges in June after a Seven Action News investigation revealed they could not safely handle the heavy traffic using them.
“I am amazed at how long it has been,” said Jeff Weber, a driver impacted by the closure. “To not be able to cut through here sometimes is kind of torture.”
So where do efforts stand to get those bridges back open?
“We have some bids going out and expect to have those bridges repaired and back open summer or fall of 2019,” said Jim Martinez, communications director for the Wayne County Executive’s Office.
Hines Drive is a place many families head to each year for the Wayne County Lightfest.
“We really view it as the start of the holiday season,” Martinez said.
Martinez says the closed bridges, which are in the area between Newburgh and just past I-275, will not impact the festival, which is between Merriman Road and Warren Avenue.
As for why it is taking so long to fix the bridges, the county says one reason is road dollars are scarce.
