Train trestle used by homeless should go, city says
Written by jrood
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dayton, Ohio, city officials are in discussions with Norfolk Southern to tear down an abandoned train trestle bridge now used as a tent-housing complex by the area's homeless, local newspapers report. Engineers from the city and railway company examined the bridge that runs over South Patterson Boulevard, just south of Apple Street, within the last two weeks, city spokesman Tom Biedenharn confirmed. He said no decision has been made about the bridge's fate.
Norfolk Southern owns the
bridge and must give the go-ahead to have it torn down.
"City officials brought
this to our attention two weeks ago," said Rudy Husband, spokesman for Norfolk
Southern. "Right now we’re just in the process of exploring various options. We
are going to work with the city and come up with a solution that works for everybody."
The bridge for years has
been the turf of homeless people who refuse to stay in area shelters, police
said. Numerous tents have popped up on the bridge, though police on more than
one occasion have tried to chase the vagabonds off.
Norfolk Southern officials
were reportedly taken aback by the conditions on the bridge and are open to
having it torn down, city officials said.
