Drone Ohio Unleashes Stunning Visuals of Chagrin Falls Bridge Resurrection; Nearing Completion After $8M Overhaul

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio — The rehabilitative overhaul of the North Main Street Bridge in Chagrin Falls is entering its final stretch, and local officials say the downtown artery could be reopened to full traffic by late 2025. The current effort seeks to reinforce structural integrity while preserving the stone arch bridge’s 19th century character.

“The bridge will be opening early, before the holidays, ahead of schedule,” the village’s information portal recently announced.

Built originally in 1857 and widened in 1886 and again in 1928, the Main Street bridge has long been a defining historic landmark in Chagrin Falls. After years of wear and inspection findings indicating deterioration such as voids in mortar joints, exposed reinforcing, and concrete deck cracks, the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works initiated a major rehabilitation project in early 2024.

Great Lakes Construction Co. holds the contract for the approximately $8.02 million renovation, of which the village is responsible for about $1 million for wing walls. The county’s project documents list a completion date of February 1, 2026, though recent notices suggest the final full closure from October 13 through 25, 2025 will allow finishing touches and pave the way for reopening.

According to the village, the final full closure will last 13 days, day and night, to enable resurfacing, utility casting replacement, and restriping. Vehicular access will be fully halted, though the east sidewalk is expected to remain open continuously. Upon reopening, both directions on North Main Street and Bell Street are slated for full traffic restoration.

Through prior phases, the bridge has continued to carry traffic under restricted conditions. During most of the construction period, a single lane of vehicular traffic in each direction is maintained while work proceeds on the opposing side. The project also required intermittent partial closures and four occasions of full closure, each lasting about 13 days. Bell Street between North Main and Pleasant Drive has been closed permanently to through traffic, and River Street has been partially restricted to westbound flow in some phases.

The rehabilitation strategy takes a bridge within a bridge approach. The original stone arch is being encased by new precast concrete arches, which will be faced with stone veneer to maintain aesthetic continuity with the historic structure. In total, 36 precast sections including arches and headwalls are being placed.

To manage construction in the water, the project uses a multi-level cofferdam system that is shifted as phases advance. The most complex task has been installing the precast arch elements beneath the existing stone arch, which involves lowering 31,000 to 34,000 pound sections onto Hillman rollers on new foundations, winching them laterally, and settling them via custom jacks. ALL Erection & Crane Rental provided the heavy lift capacity with a 120 US ton Liebherr crane in collaboration with Great Lakes and its subcontractors.

Project metrics published by Great Lakes show about 4,710 square feet of retaining wall refacing, 521 linear feet of decorative steel railing, 1,921 square feet of 4 inch stone veneer, and substantial volumes of structural concrete in the superstructure, substructure, and flowable backfill. As of October 2025, placement of stone veneer on both east and west faces has been completed, coatings and architectural treatments continue, and railings have been installed on retaining walls.

(SOURCE: photos in above gallery captured by Drone Ohio)

Drone Ohio has been capturing stunning aerial imagery and footage documenting the transformation. One timelapse video shows the arch section installation under the bridge in compressed motion. Their photographs have appeared in village and merchant association materials, with the village site crediting “Drone Ohio, Eric Malmquist and Lisa Houston” for beautiful imagery of the project.

Officials and contractors say the collaboration among the County, Village, and Great Lakes Construction has been key to minimizing disruption to downtown businesses and maintaining safe access through the work zone. The project has included enhanced signage, managed pedestrian walkways, and constant communication with stakeholders throughout.

As the final closure nears, local leaders hope the bridge’s reopening will restore full connectivity and breathe renewed visual life into the village’s trademark landmark.

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