The Grant Street bridge is located near the canoe and kayak boat launch, part of the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trailhead. (Photo by J.D. Creer)

LISBON — Mayor Peter Wilson updated village council members on the Grant Street bridge project recently, noting a revised schedule puts the project out for bids in the spring.

Construction is estimated to begin in June 2024, with completion in November 2024. According to Wilson, the bridge will only be shut down completely for two or three days, with plans calling for construction of one lane at a time for the duration of the project so traffic can continue using the crossing.

The complete closure will be necessary to move utilities. Traffic will have to be reroute to state Route 164 to Mattix Road.

Fiscal Officer Tracey Wonner talked briefly about the finances, explaining that the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Public Works Commission will administer everything.

Funding includes $1,465,787 from the federal Municipal Bridge Program administered by ODOT, with assurances that ODOT would fund up to $2 million if necessary for the construction. Other sources include a $125,000 low interest loan from the state, a $103,000 grant from Columbiana County’s American Rescue Plan Act funding and a $245,360 grant from OPWC.

The estimated cost of the project is $2.4 million for construction, engineering and environmental studies.

Wilson explained the village started looking at the Grant Street bridge and the Pritchard Avenue bridge after receiving notification from ODOT that both bridges were on a watch list.

The Grant Street bridge dates back to 1967 and Wilson said it’s deteriorating. There are concerns about weight limits and the vibration from traffic is constantly damaging the bed of the bridge which is asphalt on top of wood.

“Thankfully we’ve been lucky to get funding to replace it,” he said.

Howells and Baird of Salem did a preliminary engineering report in 2020 which was used to submit for funding. In October 2021, the IBI Group of Cincinnati was awarded the engineering contract for the project. At this point, according to the schedule, they’re working on the plans and right of way acquisition.

Wilson said ODOT has been great to work with on this project and the Pritchard Avenue project.

Wilson said the Pritchard Avenue bridge near McKinley School was constructed in 1938, with no major work done on it since the 1970s, even after homes crashed into it and under it during the Lisbon floods in 2004.

Dallis Dawson & Associates prepared the pre-engineering report for free and that was used to apply for the federal Municipal Bridge Program. In late 2021, the village received notification from ODOT regarding the awarding of $691,349 from the Municipal Bridge Program for the Pritchard Avenue bridge construction.

“This is a great opportunity for the village to replace both bridges and we don’t have this problem for the next 40 years,” Wilson said.

The program only require 5 percent from the village towards the construction cost, saving the village money.

Wilson said the bridge is still safe, but there are some issues. The project remains in the planning stages.

There’s also a third bridge project possibly on the horizon to connect the Greenway Trail to Willow Grove Park. Dallis Dawson & Associates donated pre-engineering services for free, plus there’s $100,000 from the state budget from 2020 for construction and another $16,000 in private donations from various companies.

Wilson said the plans are all tentative. The swinging bridge that used to provide a crossing had to be taken down years ago. A new bridge that could accommodate bicycles would be beneficial for people using the trail. He said this could be beneficial for Willow Grove Park, too, to increase usage.

The stretch from the trail to the park would be 70 to 80 feet.

Wilson said he’s hoping the village can secure funding from the Governor’s Appalachian Initiative to fund the engineering and environmental studies.He said he already has council’s permission to apply for funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

“I think it’s a feasible project,” he said.

mgreier@mojonews.com