Latest News
Latest News
03/21/2023
Butler County road repair costs soar, but $30M in work planned
Nearly $30 million in planned Butler County road and infrastructure projects this year reflect how construction prices have soared and created a challenge for the county engineer’s office when it came to estimating costs.
All the bids came in around the amounts estimated by Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens with one exception: a fairgrounds project that was well below the estimate.
03/20/2023
Road repairs and resurfacing, bridge replacement top county's road projects
The Guernsey County Highway Department has finalized its game plan for 202, according to Guernsey County Engineer Paul Sherry, who pointed out that grant funding will play a key role in all of the projects being planned.
"All of our work depends on the availability of grant funding," Sherry explained. "Over the last 20 years, our revenue has not kept the pace with inflation. We were fortunate to have an increase in the gas tax in 2019, which has negated in the recent years of cost increases. As time goes on, we will continue to lose purchasing power and possibly even our ability to have matching funds for grants."
03/20/2023
Ohio speed limit could increase to 60 mph on all state routes, county roads, with exceptions
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers may increase the speed limit from 55 to 60 mph on all state routes and county roads, but two-lane roads could potentially get up to 65 mph.
Unless stated otherwise, highways in the state have a speed limit of 55 mph.
03/20/2023
Traffic safety study OK'd for Allen County
Mar. 16—LIMA — As the traffic increases, Allen County may see changes to local roadways. Allen County Commissioners approved the Allen County Engineer to enter into a contract with Mannik and Smith Group to conduct a safety study to analyze roadways countywide. Last year, the Allen County Engineer received grant monies of $71,500 from the County Engineer's Association of Ohio. According to the resolution approved at Thursday morning's meeting, the studies will be held on Breese Road between Beeler and McClain, Cole Street between Diller and Beery and Ft. Amanda between Buckeye and Adgate.
03/17/2023
What roads will Ross County be paving this year?
CHILLICOTHE— Recently the Ross County Engineer Charlie Ortman sat down to discuss the upcoming road construction projects for Ross County. This includes repaving roads, installation of culverts, routine maintenance and more.
For Ortman's office funding comes from a variety of sources including federal and state grants as well as a local fund match or contribution.
03/15/2023
Intersection completed in Orange Township
LEWIS CENTER — The Delaware County Engineer’s Office recently announced construction has been completed on the Africa Road and Worthington Road intersection in Orange Township.
“Final area restoration will be completed this spring,” the Facebook page for the office said on March 8. The post also appeared on the Facebook pages for Orange and Genoa townships.
03/15/2023
ODOT District 8 kicks off construction season, focuses on big U.S. 35 project
The Ohio Department of Transportation kicked off construction season on Monday. In total, ODOT is expecting to invest $2.5 billion into more than 1,000 projects, including 198 in Southwest Ohio.
One project for ODOT District 8 and the Greene County Engineer this year includes the interchange of U.S. 35 and Valley/Trebein Road.
03/15/2023
Huron County students experience engineering careers
The Huron County Business Advisory Council hosted an “Engineering Day” for high school students who tested for an architecture, construction or engineering aptitude. These students visited area businesses, including the Huron County Engineer’s Office, BORGERS, Fabriweld, Mark Schaffer Excavating & Trucking and a presentation about the Engineering Tech program at EHOVE.
03/14/2023
Tuscarawas County Engineer’s Office seeking seasonal workers
NEW PHILADELPHIA − The Tuscarawas County Engineer’s Office is looking for students to work as seasonal workers for the Road and Bridge Department.
Students must be a current high school senior or a current college student who will be enrolled in higher education in the fall of 2023.
03/13/2023
County to replace 15 bridges this year
ZANESVILLE − The Muskingum County Engineer's Office is taking full advantage of federal bridge replacement funds to tackle several bridge projects this year. Since Muskingum County Engineer Mark Eicher took office five years ago, the county has replaced 50 bridges. The office plans to bid out six bridge projects this year, and tackle 10 to 12 on their own. Eicher's office is responsible for 402 of the approximately 640 bridges in the county.
"In all, we will replace about 15 bridges this year," Eicher said. "A very busy year."
03/13/2023
Engineer says money and weather boost several projects
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Mahoning County Engineer Pat Ginnetti gave an update on road work and projects in the county.
He said despite the rising cost of materials and labor shortages, he expects to see about 250 miles of road paved or rebuilt over the next five years.
03/10/2023
Walker Mill Road Bridge in Boardman to be replaced next spring
The Mahoning County Engineer is proposing to replace the Walker Mill Road Bridge over Yellow Creek in Boardman.
The project is currently scheduled to begin construction in the Spring of 2025.
During construction, Walker Mill Road at the project site will be closed to traffic for a period not to exceed 180 consecutive calendar days. The official detour route for the closure will utilize South Avenue, Western Reserve Road, and North Lima Rd.
03/10/2023
As roadwork costs skyrocket, Butler County plans for nearly 50 resurfacing projects
Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens has 49 projects totaling $38.3 million identified for this year and 40.5% of the capital improvement plan is for resurfacing county and township roads.
Every year, Wilkens gives the county commissioners a preview of his plan to fix and improve county and township roads. This year, the largest cash outlay is the $16 million resurfacing program to tackle nearly 73 miles of rutted roads. In recent years, the paving budget has been in the neighborhood of $6 million, but it cost $9 million last year to pave 43 miles.
03/09/2023
$4.7M Monroe road improvement project advances
WOODSFIELD — A long-anticipated improvement project on Monroe County Road 12 will get underway later this spring.
Monroe County Engineer Amy Zwick said the approximately $4.7 million project is finally moving ahead. She said a number of improvements will be made, including cement stabilization and paving of around 10.5 miles of roadway between Graysville and Ohio 800.
03/08/2023
Lollo, former Licking County engineer, remembered as calm voice of reason
NEWARK − Tim Lollo is being remembered for his calm demeanor and common sense approach to his job as Licking County engineer from 1991 to 2011.
Lollo, 64, of Newark, died Feb. 25 at the James Cancer Hospital following a brief battle with cancer. He was born March 28, 1958, in Springfield.
03/06/2023
County to use federal money for two bridge projects
LANCASTER − The Fairfield County Engineer's office will repair one bridge and replace another with money from the $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure bill President Biden signed into law in 2021.
County engineer Jeremiah Upp said he's disappointed with only receiving enough federal money for two projects or about $493,000. He said he doesn't think anymore money from the infrastructure bill will be coming.
03/02/2023
Jeffers Road bridge closed due to structural issues
Jeffers Road bridge, Lodi Township Road 83-1.40, recently was closed after Athens County Engineer Jeff Maiden made a field inspection and determined the bridge was unsafe.
The bridge is located 0.13 miles north from the intersection of Athens County Road 33A and Old U.S. 33.
Maiden conducted the field inspection on the bridge Monday.
02/28/2023
Commissioners pave the way to a smoother future
GREENVILLE — The commissioners met Thursday to discuss sealed bids for the resurfacing and pavement markings for various county and township roads. Commissioners Matt Aultman, Marshall Combs, and Larry Holmes were present.
Jim Surber, county engineer, was present as bids were opened and read during the regular session meeting. In a matter of resurfacing, the engineer’s estimate was $2,093,867.50.
02/28/2023
Funding remains biggest obstacle for road and bridge repairs
COSHOCTON − Coshocton County Engineer Fred Wachtel said the biggest obstacle for his department has always been having enough funding for needed work, and probably always will be.
Wachtel recently delivered his annual report for 2022 to Coshocton County commissioners. This included work done last year, projected projects for the coming year and other highlights from his office. Wachtel said work last year was pretty standard with road paving and bridge repairs being the bulk of projects. The same is expected for 2023.
02/24/2023
Knox County engineer's office gears up for 2023 road projects
MOUNT VERNON — It won't be long before motorists on a portion of Danville Amity Road get to stop complaining about potholes. Instead, they'll face possible traffic delays due to a roadway safety project.
Knox County Engineer Cameron Keaton said Phase 1 of the $2.8 million road improvement project will go out to bid in the next couple of months. Phase 1 covers from Skyline Drive east to Richards Street in the village.
02/24/2023
Bridge project planned over Potter Creek in Randolph. How you can share your thoughts
The Portage County Engineer’s Office, in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Transportation, isproposing a bridge replacement project on Randolph Road over Potter Creek in Randolph. The bridge is located about one third of a mile west of the intersection with Trares Road.
02/24/2023
Delaware County engineer receives award
During the Delaware County Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 13, Delaware County Engineer Chris Bauserman received the Clyde “Butch” Seidle Public Works Servant Leader Award from the Ohio chapter of the American Public Works Association (OAPWA).
“This prestigious award was presented by Del-Co Water CEO Glenn Marzluf and past chapter president Larry Lester from the City of Hilliard,” said a Facebook post by the county. “The award, named in honor of longtime public engineer Butch Seidle recognizes individuals who exhibit the highest standard of excellence, dedication and accomplishment over a sustained period and who are creative and highly skilled career servant leaders. And that perfectly describes Chris Bauserman.”
02/24/2023
Engineer: Be aware of road workers
A new set of studies from The American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety on AAA’s website asking “tow workers, emergency responders, and road maintenance workers” about their experiences found multiple troubling statistics.
The study said that of the people asked, 60 percent of them had experienced a “near-miss” as roadside workers and 15 percent had survived being hit by a passing vehicle.
02/24/2023
11 Investigates: Who pays for up to $10 million in damages to Wood County roads?
WOOD COUNTY, Ohio — Donnie Zeigler has lived in Wood County for 46 years.
He knows the roads like the back of his hand. But now, the roads are getting out of hand.
"I really hope we can get help soon, we just can't keep up," Zeigler, a board trustee for Portage Township, said.
02/21/2023
Engineer attends national conference
As part of the National Association of County Engineers (NACE), Clinton County Engineer Jeff Linkous recently attended the National Legislative Conference in Washington DC, where NACE members met with representatives of the White House, US Department of Transportation, and the Transportation and Infrastructure committee of the House of Representatives.
02/21/2023
Genoa Township stop signs ruled illegal, to be removed
Lindsay Guard is concerned about the steady roll of cars, trucks, bikes and kids along Spring Run Drive, a popular north-south alternate to Sunbury Road in Genoa Township where three-way stop signs help to slow traffic.
Others living in this and other nearby middle-class neighborhoods — some for decades — also have been concerned enough about speeders to ask township officials to enforce the signs.
02/21/2023
Ottawa County engineer says: 2023 to be big infrastructure season
Ottawa County engineer Ron Lajti said he expects 2023 to be one of the largest infrastructure construction seasons in the county’s history with budgeted projects totaling about $9.3 million scheduled for bidding.
A low bid of $790,734 from R&I Construction, Tiffin, was recently approved by the county commissioners for the replacement of Elliston Trowbridge Road over Toussaint Creek Bridge.
02/16/2023
Commissioners, engineer open bids, talk budget
The Pike County Commissioners met in regular session Monday morning and accepted bids on two different projects.
County Engineer Denny Salisbury was present to open and read the bids. Also present were representatives from many of the companies that submitted a bid.
02/16/2023
Highland County's Strait Creek Road Closes March 6 for Bridge Replacement
Work is set to begin on March 1 for a bridge replacement on Straight Creek Road (T.R. 239) in southeastern Highland County. The project is located approximately 0.5 miles west of S.R. 41, and will replace the existing structure over Baker Fork Creek. The roadway will be closed for the duration of the project starting March 6.
02/16/2023
Engineer Looking for Comments on Proposed Dressler Project
JACKSON TWP., Ohio (News Talk 1480 WHBC) – The Stark County Engineer’s Office wants to know what you think.
They’re planning a series of upgrades to Dressler Road NW and its intersections at Everhard Road, Belden Village Street and Belden Park Crossing.
02/13/2023
Road improvements are coming to Belden Village area in 2025. Here's what to know.
JACKSON TWP. ‒ The Stark County Engineer's Office is eying another project to improve safety and reduce congestion in the Belden Village area.
It will cost roughly $5.5 million and involves adding turn lanes to Dressler and Everhard roads and Belden Park Crossing, according to a news release from the office.
02/13/2023
Part of Seldom Seen to be resurfaced
The City of Powell is partnering with Delaware County to resurface a portion of Seldom Seen Road at a reduced cost to the city. During Tuesday’s meeting of Powell City Council, a resolution was approved authorizing City Manager Andrew White to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Delaware County Engineer’s Office for the project.
With Delaware County already planning to resurface the intersection of Sawmill Parkway and Seldom Seen Road this year, the project will now include the resurfacing of Seldom Seen Road from Sawmill Parkway to the CSX railroad tracks just east of Seldom Seen Park.
02/13/2023
Mercer County Engineer releases annual report
Mercer County Engineer James Wiechart has released the 2022 for the Mercer County Engineer's office.
02/10/2023
Proposed 'connector' between US-33, I-70 has some fearful for 'unnecessary' change
Fairfield County Engineer, Jeremiah Upp, says the project a “tremendous ways away…if it ever happens.”
02/08/2023
Millersburg company awarded $948K bid to replace County Road 61 bridge in Holmes
MILLERSBURG − Holmes County commissioners on Monday approved a bid of just over $948,000 from V.O. Menuez & Son for the bridge replacement project on County Road 61 in Mechanic Township.
Engineer Chris Young recommended the Millersburg firm for the job after reviewing the bid, which was the only one the county received. The bid came in nearly $16,000 below the engineer's estimated cost of $964,995.
02/06/2023
Job bids received for Harrison County road projects
CADIZ — Guardrail replacement and centerline striping projects both received contractor bids Wednesday, with the latter being rebid due proposals coming in far above the original estimate.
Harrison County Engineer Doug Bachman opened bids for each project, starting with the guardrail replacement and installation work. Four bids were received for the project, which includes around 5,000 feet of replacement and installation on Harrison County Roads 12 and 25.
02/01/2023
County expects millions in infrastructure funding
02/01/2023
Holmes County receives one bid for work on CR61 bridge rated as 'extremely poor'
V.O. Menuez & Son of Millersburg submitted a bid of $947,955.98. The engineer's estimate for the project was $964,995, according to discussion at Monday's Holmes County commissioners meeting.
Deputy Engineer Josh Galbraith and Matt Chanay of the engineer's office were on hand for the bid opening. The engineer's office will review the bid and advise the commissioners accordingly.
01/30/2023
New $401,000 stoplight coming to Tylersville Road
Post-pandemic Inflation strikes again in Butler County, nearly doubling the cost of a new stoplight slated for the intersection of Tylersville and Smith roads in West Chester Twp.
The township trustees approved spending $401,000 last week to install a new traffic signal at the intersection nearly a mile west of Ohio 747, it is a joint project with Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens. The township will pay for the signal with TIF dollars and Wilkens’ office is managing the project.
01/30/2023
Memphis Avenue Bridge in Cuyahoga County scheduled to open Monday
CLEVELAND — The Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works has announced that the Memphis Avenue Bridge in Brooklyn is scheduled to reopen on Monday, Jan. 30, at 5 p.m.
The bridge closed to traffic in May 2022, after engineers noticed a structural deficiency during an inspection.
“I want to thank the residents of Cuyahoga County for their patience and commend the employees in our Public Works Department for their hard work as we get set to reopen the bridge next week,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne. “Closing a bridge – especially one that is used by approximately 22,000 vehicles a day – is a difficult decision but was absolutely necessary in this instance to ensure everyone’s safety.”
01/27/2023
Highland County officials discuss need for equipment buildings during commission meeting
Highland County commissioners Terry Britton, David Daniels and Brad Roades met with representatives from two separate county offices to discuss proposals for new equipment storage facilities as part of a full agenda Wednesday, Jan. 25.
Commissioners had an appointment scheduled with Cierra Moore of the county’s maintenance department. She spoke in favor of a constructing a large but “simple” building where she could store tools and other equipment, as well as the maintenance truck that is currently stored outside.
01/26/2023
Lake County Engineer’s Office releases snow plow/salt policy
The Lake County Engineer’s Office re-evaluates its snow policy and procedures every year to keep up with changing costs and road conditions.
According to Lake County Engineer Jim Gills, the office is responsible for over 304 lane miles of county roads and 110 lane miles along state Route 2 from the Cuyahoga County line to the bridge over the Grand River in Painesville and Painesville Township.
01/24/2023
Milder days, cooler nights accelerate start of pothole season
We spoke with the Mahoning County engineer about how they're addressing the issue, along with a car expert about the dangers potholes pose to your car.
01/24/2023
Road crews in Greene County getting ready for another round of winter weather
People are getting ready for another round of snow across the Miami Valley later this week.
News Center 7′s Haley Kosik spoke Monday with Greene County Engineer, Stephanie Goff, and she says crews have been out nonstop since Sunday morning.
01/18/2023
Commissioners OK West Jennings Creek cleanup project
VAN WERT — West Jennings Creek winds its way through parts of Van Wert, Allen and Putnam counties and when it rains a bunch…it floods.
A joint board of county commissioners from all three counties were asked to consider a land-owners petition to have the creek just west of Delphos cleaned out.
01/17/2023
Busy Clark County road near school to close for months as part of larger project
Construction on a busy Clark County road that could last at least 10 months will begin with the closure of one portion of the road for more than four months, starting this week.
Part of the work is designed to help traffic around the new Greenon school.
Enon-Xenia Road in Mad River Twp. between Mud River Bridge (south of Hunter Road) and Rebert Pike will be closed from Monday, Jan. 16, to Wednesday, May 31, according to the Clark County Engineer’s Office. A detour will be posted.
04/15/2022
Gov. DeWine increases aid for local bridges
COLUMBUS - Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today that he is increasing Ohio’s yearly funding allocation for local bridge projects by $47.5 million for the next five years, bringing Ohio’s annual investment in county and municipal bridges to $112.5 million per year.
04/05/2022
Director Marchbanks Testimony on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
07/24/2020
Ohio County Engineers Attend White House Event
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, July 16, 2020, over 200 state, local, and tribal officials from around the country joined President Donald J. Trump on the White House South Lawn as he reviewed the administration’s ongoing efforts to reduce burdensome federal regulations. The President highlighted the regulatory actions taken to expedite infrastructure projects at an event entitled Rollback of Regulations Helping All Americans. Engineers attending from Ohio included Champaign County Engineer Stephen McCall, Delaware County Engineer Chris Bauserman, and CEAO Executive Director Dean Ringle who were invited as part of a delegation with seven other local transportation officials from the National Association of County Engineers (NACE). Vice President Mike Pence, Idaho Governor Bradley Little, and Alaska Governor Michael Dunleavy also addressed the group.
07/02/2019
Gas tax for Ohio begins
The last increase in the state gas tax was 2005. “I want to say it’s much appreciated because our costs have gone up since the last increase,” said county Engineer Bert Dawson. “It’s more of a catch up.”
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