When Yvette Hunt hears the familiar rumble of a train passing by her Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood, her senses are heightened. As a neighborhood street captain with a deep connection to the community where she grew up, Hunt is worried about the deteriorating overpass that freight trains cross every day. Her neighbors walk underneath it on their way to work, school or the corner store. But getting officials to make repairs there has been a years-long battle.

“Our safety and health are paramount, and after what happened in East Palestine, this bridge makes me nervous,” Hunt said, referring to the 2023 train derailment. 

The federal agency in charge of railroad oversight and the railroad company say no immediate repairs are needed for the overpass in Hunt’s neighborhood. This follows inspections in 2023 and 2026. But a Case Western Reserve University professor, who looked at photos of the overpass and copies of the inspection reports, said repairs to the concrete should be made soon, especially considering Cleveland’s constantly shifting weather patterns.

“Bridges are typically designed for a 50-year lifespan,” said Xiong (Bill) Yu, department chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. “While it can be difficult to tell from photos, there are visible signs of deterioration on the concrete structure and some corrosion on the steel components, although the steel appears reasonably intact.”

“From what I see, the disintegration of concrete components and … a big portion of concrete supporting the steel beam need to be addressed immediately,” he continued. 

Yu said Cleveland’s freezing and thawing cycles can “accelerate concrete degradation.” Then, he added, “If the substructure support is compromised, the bridge becomes unsafe, regardless of how strong the steel beam is, which can lead to structural failure.”

From Cleveland to East Palestine 

Hunt and her neighbors had already been tracking train safety before the February, 2023 East Palestine derailment happened. 

“I called 311 in 2022 to report illegal dumping underneath this particular bridge,” Hunt said. “That’s when I came to realize that the quality of the bridge needs immediate attention.” 

After the East Palestine train derailment, the issue became a top priority for her even though that accident was not bridge-related.

The derailment caused significant long-term damage to the quality of life of the East Palestine community. It is worth noting that the train that derailed passed through Cleveland hours before the accident occurred. Hunt wondered: If an accident of that magnitude occurred in Cleveland, would the city and residents be prepared to respond?

She worried about her parents. Hunt moved back to the area in 2009 to be a caregiver for her father and mother, who are now 85. 

“What measures are in place if, God forbid, a derailment happened? ” Hunt said. “Both of my parents are elderly. Having to try and evacuate all of us would be very difficult.” 

“This community has changed a lot through the years,” Hunt added. “One thing that has strengthened over the years is how we look out for one another. We communicate when something seems off.”

As Hunt talked with her neighbors, she found out others were also concerned. 

Go deeper: Read our explainer about train safety, including how to report an issue.

A train of events

On Feb. 23, 2023, Hunt reached out to her council member at the time, Deborah Gray, about her concerns. Gray told her the city does not have jurisdiction over train tracks in Cleveland, and she referred Hunt to the Cleveland Department of Health for next steps. 

The director of the health department told Hunt that Jenny Spencer, who was on City Council at the time, had been taking the lead in setting up a council committee meeting to learn more about railroad emergency response systems. The City of Cleveland has the authority to issue violations to railroad companies. If a railroad company fails to comply, the city can take legal action.

When Signal Cleveland picked up the story last year, our first step was to identify who is responsible for the quality of train tracks and overpasses. After speaking with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), we learned that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Rail Administration has jurisdiction. However, PUCO acts as an agent for the FRA. 

In that capacity, PUCO staff members perform track, train and hazardous materials inspections on behalf of the FRA. The railroads that are cited are responsible for the cost of any necessary repairs. The FRA makes sure that the repairs were in fact made, and, in certain cases, may provide funding to help offset repair costs.

The summer of 2023

On June 12, 2023, a few months after the derailment in East Palestine, the City of Cleveland sent PUCO a letter. The letter listed 23 bridges – owned by four separate railroad companies – that required inspection, maintenance or repairs. Only active railroad bridges are subject to inspection requirements.

On Aug. 23, 2023, PUCO reviewed five CSX bridges identified by the city. During the review, PUCO requested the respective railroads have personnel on-site to provide information on their most recent inspections. 

The local CSX bridge supervisor accompanied PUCO for these reviews. PUCO observed spalling – or cracked – concrete on all five CSX bridges. One of the five bridges on the list was on Kennedy Avenue – the primary bridge Hunt had been asking about.

Notes and planned work for the railroad included repairing the spalling concrete on the northwest corner of the bridge. CSX planned to make repairs. A report noted the Kennedy Avenue bridge was in their top three to repair.

Did the repairs happen?

However, three years later, when Signal Cleveland accompanied Hunt to the Kennedy Avenue bridge, it appeared no significant repairs had been completed.

In January, after Signal Cleveland reached out with questions about repairs, the FRA reviewed CSX’s Annual Bridge Inspection Reports. The FRA did not detect any conditions that would immediately affect the ability of these bridges to carry train traffic or pose a danger to the public, said Warren Flatau, a spokesman for the FRA. 

CSX also conducts at least one bridge inspection of these bridges per year. “These inspection procedures meet and/or exceed applicable requirements of the FRA’s Part 237 Bridge Safety Standards,” the FRA letter said.

In February, a representative from the FRA came to Northeast Ohio to inspect 30 crossings in the Cleveland area. They found no defects at the inspected crossings.

See something, say something

According to Yu, the Case Western professor, agencies face major financial limitations, resulting in a large backlog of necessary repairs. Based on current investment paces, it might take until 2070 to fix all bridges currently in poor condition across the United States, assuming no additional bridges reach that status, Yu said. That underscores the need to prioritize bridges with the most significant risk, he said. That’s why it’s important for residents to continue to report issues as they arise, no matter how small they may seem, he added.

“Residents’ observations are valuable because special events or changes not captured right after a regular inspection could occur,” Yu said. “Making timely reports of issues like cracks are essential for agencies to take immediate action.”

Meanwhile, Hunt continues to push for more accountability. Despite the inspection reports, Hunt still believes more needs to be done. On a recent overcast Saturday afternoon, she walked around the neighborhood, nestled behind new townhouses, near the Opportunity Corridor. As she spoke, a CSX train passed overhead. 

“I’m disappointed,” Hunt said. “We’ve waited and waited, we can’t afford to wait anymore.”