Ohio has the sixth-largest veteran population in the U.S. with more than 830,000 veterans, more than 11,000 active-duty service members and over 35,000 National Guard and reserve members.

In late 2023, the DOT designated the city-owned Veterans Memorial Bridge, also known as the Route 2 overpass, as “structurally deficient.” The bridge flies over Marshall Street, the south campus of ...