Ohio Department of Transportation

10/24/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/24/2024 09:28

Gov. DeWine Announces Millions to Improve Local Bridges

COLUMBUS - Today, Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Pamela Boratyn announced more than $12 million is being invested to aid communities with fixing or replacing aging bridges on local roads.

ODOT's Municipal Bridge Program, an annual grant for local municipalities to apply for to pay for projects on bridges under their jurisdiction, is awarding $12.4 million to eight projects in seven communities. The projects include full replacements of four bridges and repairs on four others.

"Bridges are a vital part of our transportation infrastructure, but the cost of maintenance and repair is often more than local jurisdictions can afford. This program provides the funding assistance our local communities need to keep their bridges safe and in good condition," said Gov. DeWine.

Projects

County

Sponsor

Project Name

Project Description

Year

Phase

Awarded Funds

Adams

Village of Peebles

Nixon Avenue Bridge Replacement

Replacement of the existing structure on the Nixon Avenue bridge over Cincinnati Eastern Railroad.

2026

Engineering

$110,800

Franklin

City of Columbus

Ohio Center Way Bridge Rehabilitation

Rehabilitate the bridge deck as well as replace expansion joints on the Ohio Center Way bridge over CSX & NS railroads and abutting the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

2028

Construction

$797,335

Licking

City of Pataskala

Key Boulevard Bridge Rehabilitation

Replacement of the superstructure of the Key Boulevard bridge over the south fork of the Licking River.

2028*

Construction

$1,000,000

Lucas

Village of Ottawa Hills

Evergreen Road Bridge Replacement

Replacement of the Evergreen Road bridge over Ottawa River.

2027

Construction

$2,500,000

Lucas

City of Toledo

Berdan Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation

Replacement of the superstructure, including minor repairs to the beams and substructure, on the Berdan Avenue bridge over the Ottawa River.

2028*

Construction

$2,093,046

Montgomery

City of Kettering

Galewood Street Bridge Rehabilitation

Replace the superstructure with prestressed composite box beams and a composite concrete deck and replace the erosion control protecting the abutments on the Galewood Street bridge over Little Beaver Creek.

2026

Engineering

$56,000

2026

Design

$40,000

2028

Construction

$938,694

Ottawa

Village of Genoa

West 9th Street Bridge Replacement

Replacement of the existing bridge with a single span composite prestressed box beam on W 9th Street over Packer Creek.

2028*

Construction

$2,389,200

2026

Design

$147,000

2028

Construction

$1,023,150

Ottawa

Village of Genoa

Washington Street Bridge Replacement

Replacement of the existing bridge on Washington Street over Packer Creek.

2026

Engineering

$50,200

2026

Design

$150,600

2028

Construction

$1,049,750

Total

$12,394,775

*Designates a SFY 2027 reservoir project if funds become available


There are nearly 1,500 bridges in the state of Ohio that are owned by a municipality and meet the federal definition of a bridge.

To be eligible for the program, bridges must:

  • Be owned by a city, village, metro park, or regional transit authority
  • Be open to vehicular traffic (unless the bridge was closed due to safety concerns within the last 5 years)
  • Be defined as "poor" to qualify for replacement or demolition
  • Be defined as "fair" to qualify for rehabilitation projects

Applications for funding were accepted starting July 1 and ending August 15. These funding requests were reviewed by a multi-disciplinary committee with a background in funding and program management and bridge analysis. In addition to the written application, each applicant was invited to present their application before the selection committee.

The program may cover up to 95% of eligible project costs.

"Bridges owned by local communities make up the majority of the bridges in our state. The people of Ohio do not care who owns and maintains these bridges, they just want to know that they are safe to cross. This program helps ensure they are," Boratyn said.

Overall, Ohio has the third largest bridge inventory in the nation, trailing only Texas and Illinois.