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Lorain residents risk lives, cross closed bridge

Posted at 10:50 PM, May 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-03 09:11:52-04

Lorain police report dozens of Lorain residents are risking their lives everyday by continuing the cross the Henderson Memorial Bridge, even though it's sidewalk is closed to pedestrian traffic.

The bridge on route 611 is in the midst of an ODOT improvement project, and is down to just two lanes.

The sidewalk has been completely closed, and one portion of the sidewalk is wide open, exposing pedestrians to a fall of dozens of feet to the banks on the Black River below,

Police said some pedestrian are even walking along the road, just a few inches from on-coming traffic, causing some drivers to slow down or even stop to avoid a potential accident.

The problem has become so prolific the Ohio Department of Transportation has asked Lorain police to step-up patrols.

ODOT has even hired private security to monitor the bridge while construction is taking place during the day.

Lorain police told newsnet5.com they will be issuing tickets to violators, which carry a $200 fine for the first offense.

A second offense could earn those caught some jail time,