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Sen. Sherrod Brown Letter To Norfolk Southern About Lake Ave Bridge

The document is a letter from Senator Sherrod Brown to the President and CEO of Norfolk Southern Corporation regarding failing rail infrastructure in Cleveland, Ohio. It details the poor condition of bridges, including the Lake Avenue Bridge, with crumbling concrete and rusting beams. The letter notes the bridge's dysfunctional drainage system and mud issues, as well as chunks falling despite temporary plywood fixes. It requests a plan from Norfolk Southern to improve the Lake Avenue Bridge and address general disrepair issues in Cleveland railroad properties.

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2K views2 pages

Sen. Sherrod Brown Letter To Norfolk Southern About Lake Ave Bridge

The document is a letter from Senator Sherrod Brown to the President and CEO of Norfolk Southern Corporation regarding failing rail infrastructure in Cleveland, Ohio. It details the poor condition of bridges, including the Lake Avenue Bridge, with crumbling concrete and rusting beams. The letter notes the bridge's dysfunctional drainage system and mud issues, as well as chunks falling despite temporary plywood fixes. It requests a plan from Norfolk Southern to improve the Lake Avenue Bridge and address general disrepair issues in Cleveland railroad properties.

Uploaded by

WKYC.com
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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May 2, 2023

Mr. Alan Shaw


President and CEO
Norfolk Southern Corporation
650 W. Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30308

Mr. Shaw:

Failing rail infrastructure, both in Cleveland and across Ohio, is a source of great concern to all
Ohioans. Recently, it was reported that 16 out of Norfolk Southern’s 20 railroad properties in
Cleveland show visual signs of degradation, including crumbling concrete bridges and rusting
support beams. Many of these bridges are covered with graffiti and littered with debris and
overgrowth, giving Ohioans the impression that these critical structures are not being properly
maintained.

On a recent visit to Cleveland’s Edgewater neighborhood, I heard from residents fed up with the
failure to repair the historic Lake Avenue Bridge. The bridge has had chunks of concrete and cast
iron falling onto the road and sidewalk as trains pass overhead.1

In a state of disrepair, the bridge has mud oozing down its walls due to a dysfunctional, decades-
old drainage system. The mud has shorted out LED lights installed by the city and requires
frequent cleanup.2 Since Spring of 2018, community members have taken the matter into their
own hands – doing what Norfolk Southern should be doing – holding cleanups and
crowdsourcing funds in an effort to maintain the bridge.

After safety concerns regarding Lake Avenue Bridge were reported, Norfolk Southern responded
by installing plywood on the underside of the bridge – to prevent concrete from falling on the
roadway and the sidewalk. Pieces of the plywood installed have now been found – where prior
chunks of concrete and cast iron have been found – lying on the sidewalk.3 This is not a real

1
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/03/bad-shape-see-16-railroad-bridges-in-cleveland.html
2
https://thelandcle.org/stories/its-more-than-derailments-crumbling-norfolk-southern-bridges-need-attention-too/
3
ibid
solution to a serious issue. While Norfolk Southern has stated that the bridge is strong enough to
carry trains, the structure has not received proper maintenance or refurbishment.

There is no defensible excuse for failing to fix this bridge. Norfolk Southern must make swift
improvements and prevent further damage and potential injuries.

In response to complaints and requests for repairs, local leaders have been largely ignored by
your company. When they do receive a response, it is often the bare minimum. Mayor Bibb of
Cleveland has requested to establish regular contact with Norfolk Southern to better manage the
care of railroad properties within Cleveland. These requests should not be ignored and Norfolk
Southern must stop keeping local officials – whether in East Palestine, Sandusky, or Cleveland –
at an arm’s length and start working together to ensure the safety of all communities.

I ask that you provide a plan detailing how you will improve the Lake Avenue Bridge
specifically and the general problems of rail property disrepair in Cleveland.

You have a chance to fix past mistakes, and do the right thing to support local communities and
invest in the future of American rail infrastructure.

Sincerely,

___________________________________
Sherrod Brown
United States Senator

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