The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) recently awarded nearly $28 million in Municipal Bridge Program funds to support local projects that repair, replace, or demolish 24 aging bridges statewide.
The program provides funding to municipalities, metro parks, and regional transit agencies for bridge projects. This round of funding supports the demolition of four bridges, the repair of four bridges, and the replacement of 16 bridges.
The four bridges slated for demolition have each been out of use for several years.
Projects were selected based on committee recommendations and a scoring system. Each project has a funding limit of $2 million, and a local match is required.
Grants pay for up to 95 percent of the eligible costs for bridge construction and inspection.
“Previously, the Municipal Bridge Program was only able to pay for a percentage of construction cost,” ODOT Director Dr. Jack Marchbanks said. “Now, we are also able to cover up to 100 percent of the design costs. The additional funding provided to this program from the Bridge Formula Program will certainly help the municipalities that may not have the money for design work on these much-needed projects.”
Gov. Mike DeWine increased the yearly funding allocation last year from $11.5 to $18.5 million.