Ohio expands bridge partnership program

Ohio’s Local Bridge Partnership Program is adding 10 bridges to its plan that provides $120 million to local governments to make transportation safer. The program is already  fixing or replacing 220 bridges in local communities throughout Ohio.

“This first-of-its-kind program is getting better because Gov. John Kasich and I value the state investments we are making in the infrastructure of our local communities,” said Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor. “Ohio is in a better place today as we continue to focus on jobs and the economy, and transportation is critical to moving our state forward.”

The first bridge completely reconstructed as part of the new program opened up on Friday, Aug. 22, in in Meigs County. The project took just took just six weeks and $492,570 to complete.

The new bridges added to the program are:

1. Johnson Road over Bradford Creek in Madison County

2. Township Road 365 over Wills Creek in Guernsey County

3. Thayer Road over Dry Creek in Knox County

4. Wilmington Road over Gum Run in Warren County

5. Clay Pike over Little Salt Creek in Muskingum County

6. County Road 25C over Rock Riffle Run in Athens County

7. Millsboro West Road over a stream in Richland County

8. Blue Rock Road over Blue Rock Creek in Muskingum County

9. Sandbar Road over the Little Muskingum River in Monroe County

10. Remsen Road over a branch of the Rocky River in Medina County

Programs like this is the reason why some reports suggest Ohio’s bridges are better than the national average. However, Ohio has 44,000 bridges – the second-highest number in the nation behind Texas – which means there are still plenty of bridges in need of repair.