The David Root Bridge on Stadium Drive will close from Monday, March 7, through Friday, Aug. 12 for demolition and replacement. Inspection has shown that the bridge, constructed in the early 60's, has structural issues. The new bridge will have wider walkways for students and will be designed to fit with campus architecture. Obviously this is going to be a major pain in the butt for students and for those of us who are on campus for athletic events.

(03-01-2016 10:33 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  The David Root Bridge on Stadium Drive will close from Monday, March 7, through Friday, Aug. 12 for demolition and replacement. Inspection has shown that the bridge, constructed in the early 60's, has structural issues. The new bridge will have wider walkways for students and will be designed to fit with campus architecture. Obviously this is going to be a major pain in the butt for students and for those of us who are on campus for athletic events.

Who was David Root, and how did the bridge become named after him...

That will definitely cause a big divide for cars getting through campus, which may not be such a bad thing during high traffic times since cars will have to go out the way they came in.

As far as it impacting students, I hated walking on that bridge during the day and much preferred using the foot bridge behind Calson/Student Union and the the foot bridge between the big parking garage and Savage Hall. The sidewalks on the bridge being replaced are very narrow and there is nothing between the sidewalk and the road, so if you are two-wide (one person going in either direction or walking side-by-side) you have cars buzzing by you within a foot. Good riddance.

The road geek in me needs to see the plans

Orange barrels are my friend after all


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(03-01-2016 12:26 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  The road geek in me needs to see the plans

Orange barrels are my friend after all


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Ask and ye shall receive...

https://www.utoledo.edu/commissions/rive...Report.pdf

And this was in the report:

Quote:History of the Bridge

In 1961, plans were drawn for a new traffic and pedestrian bridge over the Ottawa River connecting the north and southb areas of campus. This bridge is located on the eastern side of campus between Savage Arena and Health and Human
Services Building (formerly the College of Engineering). A well‐known billboard company owned by David Root had numerous billboards displayed throughout the city, one of which was on the corner of The University of Toledo’s campus. As a result of a negotiation, the unsightly billboard on campus was removed and the new bridge was named after the owner of the billboard company.

Revolutionary War Hero? No
Civil War Hero? No
Medal of Honor Winner? No

We need to rename it...

(03-01-2016 12:47 PM)RangerRocket Wrote:  And this was in the report:

Quote:History of the Bridge

In 1961, plans were drawn for a new traffic and pedestrian bridge over the Ottawa River connecting the north and southb areas of campus. This bridge is located on the eastern side of campus between Savage Arena and Health and Human
Services Building (formerly the College of Engineering). A well‐known billboard company owned by David Root had numerous billboards displayed throughout the city, one of which was on the corner of The University of Toledo’s campus. As a result of a negotiation, the unsightly billboard on campus was removed and the new bridge was named after the owner of the billboard company.

Revolutionary War Hero? No
Civil War Hero? No
Medal of Honor Winner? No

We need to rename it...

Actually, I think David Root was the son of the billboard owner. I believe he died, and may have been a UT student???

This should certainly make things interesting for myself and fellow students. How about a new parking garage?!? Or at least renovate the old ones to keep up with the modern times. Add some side neon lighting on the outside to spruce things up. I don't know, they're just so old and dreary looking.

(03-01-2016 01:12 PM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  This should certainly make things interesting for myself and fellow students. How about a new parking garage?!? Or at least renovate the old ones to keep up with the modern times. Add some side neon lighting on the outside to spruce things up. I don't know, they're just so old and dreary looking.

The university would like to get out of the parking garage business. Too expensive per space to develop and maintain. If I recall it was something like 7 or 8 times more expensive per space.

The university does not have a parking problem, it has a walking problem.

They just redid some of the concrete approach a couple years ago, right? Should have done this all this the first time.

Oh, and a 97 page STUDENT report! That's why people go into journalism, where 4 paragraphs is heavy lifting.

(03-01-2016 01:05 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Actually, I think David Root was the son of the billboard owner. I believe he died, and may have been a UT student???

The son was Jay Root. A very nice kid. Died in 1999. Roots were early on the Downtown revitalization. In high school, a kid in my class worked for them, had this huge Black Velvet billboard paper. I guess it had a flaw so it wasn't used. She didn't looked flawed to me.

Count me another that won't miss those tiny sidewalks. It's a stare down, whenever someone approaches from the other direction. Had to knock more old ladies into the street than I can count.

(03-01-2016 01:36 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  The university does not have a parking problem, it has a walking problem.

Bingo. Rocket Hall wasn't usually too full when I went to school. The Rec Center lot wasn't bad. Upper floors of the parking garages were fine. But people must be scared of walking.


Also, I hope they leave the hand rail that still has the dent from the goal post from the Pitt game!

(03-01-2016 06:50 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-01-2016 01:36 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  The university does not have a parking problem, it has a walking problem.

Bingo. Rocket Hall wasn't usually too full when I went to school. The Rec Center lot wasn't bad. Upper floors of the parking garages were fine. But people must be scared of walking.


Also, I hope they leave the hand rail that still has the dent from the goal post from the Pitt game!

Right. I would always immediately go to the 3rd or 4th floor of the garage right by the steps, where there would be plenty of parking available. And then walk

(03-01-2016 06:45 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(03-01-2016 01:05 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Actually, I think David Root was the son of the billboard owner. I believe he died, and may have been a UT student???

The son was Jay Root. A very nice kid. Died in 1999. Roots were early on the Downtown revitalization. In high school, a kid in my class worked for them, had this huge Black Velvet billboard paper. I guess it had a flaw so it wasn't used. She didn't looked flawed to me.

Count me another that won't miss those tiny sidewalks. It's a stare down, whenever someone approaches from the other direction. Had to knock more old ladies into the street than I can count.

Bob Root was the dad. Great singer.

(03-01-2016 12:47 PM)RangerRocket Wrote:  And this was in the report:

Quote:History of the Bridge

In 1961, plans were drawn for a new traffic and pedestrian bridge over the Ottawa River connecting the north and southb areas of campus. This bridge is located on the eastern side of campus between Savage Arena and Health and Human
Services Building (formerly the College of Engineering). A well‐known billboard company owned by David Root had numerous billboards displayed throughout the city, one of which was on the corner of The University of Toledo’s campus. As a result of a negotiation, the unsightly billboard on campus was removed and the new bridge was named after the owner of the billboard company.

Revolutionary War Hero? No
Civil War Hero? No
Medal of Honor Winner? No

We need to rename it...

If you rename the bridge the Root Family should get their billboard back :-)

(03-01-2016 06:50 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(03-01-2016 01:36 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  The university does not have a parking problem, it has a walking problem.

Bingo. Rocket Hall wasn't usually too full when I went to school. The Rec Center lot wasn't bad. Upper floors of the parking garages were fine. But people must be scared of walking.


Also, I hope they leave the hand rail that still has the dent from the goal post from the Pitt game!

That dent is from the 2001 MAC title game against Marshall.