The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) funding for bridges maintained by the state’s 88 county engineers will increase from $34 million to $74 million annually, and municipal-owned bridge funding will increase from $11 million to $18.5 million each year.
“ODOT will continue to aggressively address bridges throughout the state that are under our jurisdiction while at the same time doing everything we can to ensure our local partners have the resources they need to address their most critical issues,” ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks said.
Under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Ohio will receive $104 million in bridge funding over the next five years. The law requires Ohio to invest $15.6 million annually into bridges owned by municipalities, townships, and counties.
Gov. Mike DeWine tripled the amount going to local communities.
Additionally, small, locally-owned bridges are eligible for funding under ODOT’s Local Major Bridge Program, which pays for up to 80 percent of construction and engineering costs for major bridge projects costing up to $20 million.
The number of eligible bridges increased from 54 to 238. Local governments can apply online.
ODOT will invest, in each of the next five years, $112.5 million combined with federal funding. This brings the total investment to $407.5 million annually.