Circleville’s Hargus Creek Bridge Ready For Pumpkin Show

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(Circleville) – The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the city of Circleville, and other community partners joined today to celebrate the reopening of the Court St. (State Route 188) bridge over Hargus Creek in the city of Circleville. This $1.8 million project has wrapped up just in time for the annual Pumpkin Show, which typically brings 400,000 visitors to downtown Circleville during the event.

Deputy Director Turowski, Circleville Mayor McIlroy and others cut the ribbon to celebrate reopening of Court St.

“The Circleville Pumpkin Show is a major community event and something Ohioans look forward to each year. We made it a priority to complete this important infrastructure project before the start of this year’s festivities to ensure safer and easier travel for residents and visitors alike,” said Governor Mike DeWine.

Work began earlier this year to remove the 98-year-old bridge that runs between E. Main St. and Northridge Rd. and serves as a main thoroughfare for Circleville residents and commuters. N. Court Street closed to traffic in early May and remained closed through most of the summer while crews removed the old bridge and replaced it with a new structure. The foundation of the bridge remains intact, and is over 100 years old. 

“The original bridge through Circleville was a community marker for the city,” said ODOT District 6 Deputy Director Anthony Turowski. “A lot of residents have personal memories tied to this bridge. It was important to us to do right by them by preserving the historic part of this bridge, but still make effective and meaningful repairs that will last for years to come.”

The bridge is approximately 60 feet long and is comprised of 100 percent precast concrete. That means the concrete arches were poured and cured off-site, transported, and installed. It is the longest span of any single-piece precast ever implemented by ODOT. The new bridge also includes new decorative handrails that are consistent with the historic character of the city while continuing to serve area pedestrians.