The Washington County Engineer was approved for more than a million and a half dollars in appropriations, equipment and project monies at Thursday’s weekly meeting of the Washington County Commissioners.
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APPLICATIONS FOR WOOLPERT'S CLIFF LOVING SCHOLARSHIP CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED
Applications are currently being accepted for the annual Cliff Lovin Scholarship for a geography or engineering student attending school in the State of Ohio. Woolpert generously established this scholarship to support the geospatial industry by helping students in furthering their education in the field.
The scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student with a major in geography or engineering who is currently enrolled at an Ohio university. Applications and an official transcript are due by September 1, 2017, and the recipient will be announced during the 2017 Ohio GIS Conference, September 25-27, in Columbus, Ohio. For application information, please see the links below.
July rains caused more than $2 million in damages in central Ohio
NEWARK — Flooding last month caused about $2 million in damage in three central Ohio counties, according to initial estimates submitted to the state.
Bellbrook Avenue bridge to be repaired Road crews to improve, replace 10 bridges in Greene County.
“This is the sixth bridge we have replaced beams on this year and there are four more that require maintenance,” according to Greene County Engineer Bob Geyer.
Fairgrounds’ new entrance comes in a very old package
LISBON — The county fairgrounds can now boast two historical bridges, and the same man was behind both projects that were 45 years apart.
Rover Pipeline project: 1st line constructed, 2nd could be delayed by federal order
The first of two parallel pipelines running through Richland County is completely constructed, but the second could be delayed by federal order.
How safe are Butler County roundabouts? New report details results
The Butler County Engineer’s Office says its roundabouts are even safer than the national average as far as preventing crashes.
Innovative sealing method saves roads and money in Trumbull County
VIENNA, Ohio (WKBN) – The Trumbull County Engineer’s Office is trying out a new process when it comes to chip sealing roads — using recycled asphalt grindings from paving projects in other parts of the county.
Cornell Robertson named acting Franklin County engineer
Cornell Robertson has been named Franklin County’s acting engineer.
With little $$, fixing county bridges is like 'putting out fires'
Athens County has an enormous number of bridges, 335 to be exact, that may well be among the most for a county in Ohio, if not the most. But with increased expenses and decreased funding, it’s near impossible to get ahead of the game when addressing damaged bridges, Athens County Engineer Jeff Maiden explained last week.
Cost of asphalt limits road resurfacing plans
LISBON –The county engineer’s office will be resurfacing fewer miles of roads this year because more of the effort will focus on asphalt, which is much costlier than chip/seal.
Commissioners likely to weigh additional license-plate fee
Wood County's commissioners will likely discuss seeking an additional $5 license-plate fee that could generate nearly $750,000 per year for road and bridge work.
Lucas County official seeks plate fee hike
Lucas County Engineer Keith Earley made a plea to the county commissioners Tuesday for increased vehicle registration fees to fund the rising costs of construction for area roads and bridges.
Dangerous railroad crossings: Can counties afford to fix them?
DELAWARE — Widening roads to ease congestion is necessary in growing communities. But engineers and public officials face challenges when railroad crossings are in the way. Do they widen around the tracks? Build a bridge over them? Or create a trench underneath?
Franklin County Engineer Dean Ringle retiring after 17 years in office
Franklin County’s long-time engineer is retiring — and recommending his replacement.
Dean Ringle, 60, has been the county’s elected engineer for 17 years but has worked for the Engineer’s Office for 36 years. “I know I look younger than that,” Ringle joked.
Franklin County Engineer Dean Ringle leaving post
Dean Ringle is resigning from the Franklin County Engineer's Office after 36 years of employment there, including the last 17 leading it. He'll leave next month to become executive director for the County Engineers Association of Ohio.
Longtime County Engineer Sharrett to retire after 43 years
Ron Sharrett, the longtime engineer of Vinton County, has announced he will retire next month.
Longtime County Engineer Sharrett to retire after 43 years
Ron Sharrett, the longtime engineer of Vinton County, has announced he will retire next month.
Longtime County Engineer Sharrett to retire after 43 years
Ron Sharrett, the longtime engineer of Vinton County, has announced he will retire next month.
Erie County patching 25 miles of roadway
Later this year, Erie County officials plan to smooth out about 25 miles of really rough roads. The county engineer office’s annual chip seal program consists of patching about 40 sections of streets spanning various townships.
Local highway department 'starting to take off' with projects
Not for prom or even graduation. And certainly not Christmas. No, it’s the time of year when the Huron County Engineer’s Office and Highway Department is busy with multiple projects.
Mahoning County engineer: More money needed to fix crumbling roads
YOUNGSTOWN — Raising taxes and fees is never popular, but more money is needed to properly maintain road infrastructure, Mahoning County County Engineer Patrick Ginnetti told the county commissioners today.
Holmes engineer rolls out plan to pave roads with sales tax dollars
MILLERSBURG — Holmes County Engineer Chris Young has released the details of the 2017 Paving Plan, the first such paving plan that will incorporate revenue from a five-year 0.25 percent road sales tax approved by Holmes County voters in November 2016.
Belmont County Commissioners considering putting license plate fee hike up for levy
BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — A proposed license plate fee hike was addressed during the Belmont County Commission meeting on Wednesday morning.
ACEC Ohio Engineering Excellence Awards Announced Recognizing Top Engineering Projects across the State
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Ohio (ACEC Ohio) recently recognized 29 projects as part of their annual Engineering Excellence Awards Competition. Read more here
County engineer gets money for projects, equipment
Holmes County voters approve sales tax increase
Salt reserve taking mild winter in stride
County engineer reports on Rover pipeline progress
How a Michigan County Road Got Stuck in Regulation Purgatory
Belmont County commissioners contemplate license plate fee
Erie County boasts robust bridge rating
Engineer: Funds needed for bridge repairs
Belmont County engineer looking for money to upgrade roads
County engineer attends Trump address
Trumbull engineer’s office to have truck washing facility by fall
Increased license plate fee may be on ballot
Ditzler to state lawmakers: Get some guts
Proposed license plate fee increase targets road and bridge improvements
Cost could soon rise for Ohio driver's licenses, plates
Using data to drive Licking County road work
Battle expected over annexation request from Jerome to Dublin
Boothe addresses concerns with state finance committee
More than 1,600 Ohio bridges deemed structurally deficient
Mahoning County Engineer says road improvement budget is tight
ROADS/BRIDGES: Overpass crumbles onto I-75 median in Bay County, Mich.
Trumbull County buys four CNG trucks
Belmont engineer welcomes assistant
Restoration of county computer data could be weeks away
Hoagland Bridge Bill Should Pass
Mahoning County Engineer calls for funding changes
ROADS/BRIDGES: Governors to submit list of 300 infrastructure projects to Trump administration
County engineer talks about sagging infrastructure
Musings on social media
Hoagland introduces bill to help bridges
FUNDING: GOP Senator, House Democrat propose separate highway funding plans
Senator Brown and colleagues create proposal to rebuild America's infrastructure
ROADS/BRIDGES: Largest concrete surface in Michigan to be replaced
Brent Spence Bridge rumored to be second on Trump’s infrastructure priority list
Senator Brown calls for $1 trillion spending on roads and bridges
Licking County TID focuses on Jug Street, Ohio 310
Ohio’s highest bridge opens to traffic after 6 years of construction
Pothole problem? Report it to road crews
Busy stretches of Butler County roadway to see changes in 2017
Legal load limit on most county roads to be reduced
Vrooman Road Bridge project lawsuit officially dismissed
Mercer County Engineer completes bridge inspections
Clark County drivers cautioned as bitter cold to remain
Corn stalks saving tax dollars, increasing road safety in Franklin County
Woolpert Contracted to Collect Orthoimagery for Ohio
County retirees amass more than 100 years
Surber continues to work with less money
Beck wraps up seven terms as county engineer
Lake County commissioners approve settlement agreement with Ruhlin Co. over Vrooman Road bridge project
City, county and state road warriors prepare for winter
Shaking in Adams County
Belmont County Engineer Fred Bennett Hangs Up His Hat
How cornstalks prevent snowdrifts on Franklin County roads
Opinions differ on how to fund broken bridge fixes
The Problem With Our Infrastructure Isn't Lack Of Spending, It's Regulations
Morrow’s newly elected county officials sworn in
First snowfall for county
Two Allen County bridges lose weight limits, open to all traffic
Clark County road crews prep for cold blasts after first big snowfall
Ready for more snow
The Portage County Engineer's staff is ready for more snow.
County prepares for winter weather
MIAMI COUNTY — While students are dreaming of the first snow day, county crews are preparing their trucks, mounting plows and salters, and, while Santa has been getting ready to stuff stockings with toys, the Highway Department has been busy stuffing the salt storage barn to the rafters with rock salt.
Gas tax increase proposed to fix county roads, bridges
A county supervisors' group is proposing raising the state gas tax to pay for repairs to Mississippi's aging roads and bridges, but lawmakers say there may not be the political will to increase fuel taxes.
Clark, Champaign road crews gear up for winter weather
SPRINGFIELD —Traffic crews in Clark and Champaign counties have prepared salt trucks as winter weather is expected to approach the area over the next few days and weeks.
Roundabout planned near township fire station
Although construction likely will not start for at least a few more years, plans to build a roundabout adjacent to Berlin Township's fire station moved forward last week.
County trucks ready for winter
The Hancock County Engineer’s Office has filled the salt building off Lima Avenue and completed maintenance on county trucks, as employees prepare for winter and keeping 362 miles of county roads drivable during the snowy months, county Engineer Chris Long reports.
Suit still pending in local case pitting roadwork vs. health
A federal wrongful death lawsuit remains pending against the Athens County Engineer over road maintenance work on Dutch Creek Road that the litigants say poses a mortal threat to a resident with chemical sensitivity. Each side recently filed updated complaints or answers in the case.
Joe Bachman column: County Engineer's Office funding issues real
After seeing and hearing some of the advertising in the recent county commissioner's race, I would like to clarify some issues. The sitting commissioners, in support of the challenger, made an issue of the Road and Bridge Department's carryover balance as though it were a negative issue. Our end of the year 2015 carryover was $1.4 million; the Commissioners' General Fund end of year 2015 carryover was $5.1 million.
County ready for snow to fly
Seneca County departments are making annual preparations for snowfall and residents should too.
Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps
The messaging app Snapchat allows motorists to post photos that record the speed of the vehicle. The navigation app Waze rewards drivers with points when they report traffic jams and accidents. Even the game Pokémon Go has drivers searching for virtual creatures on the nation’s highways.
Butler County communities stockpiling road salt, spending less
BUTLER COUNTY - Several Butler County communities will be spending $200,000 or more each for road salt this winter and have already stockpiled thousands of tons of salt in preparation for the upcoming winter.
Pausch testimony before the Joint Legislative Task Force
COLUMBUS - CEAO Executive Director Fredrick Pausch testified today before the Joint Legislative Task Force on Department of Transportation Issues.
Long-planned Sawmill Parkway extension opens
Delaware County officials began discussing a new route between the county's southern border and the city of Delaware in the late 1980s.
Historic bridge restored in Monroe County
WOODSFIELD – The Foraker Covered Bridge in Monroe County just received a $215,000 makeover that should keep the historic structure functioning for many more years.
New gas wells planned for Monroe County
WOODSFIELD — Economic activity in Monroe County is picking up as oil and gas exploration firms seek new land lease/royalty agreements for drilling.
Dedicated sales tax keeps Delaware County bridges in better repair than most
DELAWARE — Stone Mill bridge, a century old, was being repaired almost annually in recent years, allowing motorists to cross the Olentangy River north of the city.
Warren County weighs $18 million in road financing for P&G
A Warren County transportation board is planning to finance $18 million to speed up completion of road projects around a Proctor & Gamble expansion expected to bring 1,300 jobs to the county.
Inadequate Road and Bridge Infrastructure in Farm Country
From the front seat of his Dodge pickup truck, Steve Greene surveys the local roads in Jewell County, Kansas. There are 1,500 miles of county-maintained roads in this north-central Kansas county, where Greene serves as chairman of the county commission. Only 15 miles are paved; 700 miles are rock or gravel. The rest are minimum-maintenance dirt roads, many of which have outdated bridges and are pocked with ruts.
If Surber says we need - we need it
[Surber's] staff has been cut and his funding is nowhere near where it once was, but he continues to do a magnificent job for the county by finding alternative ways to get the job done.
Sales Tax Change Could Affect County Revenues
Nothing is certain when it comes to local revenues that run through the state coffers, county officials have learned.
BRIDGE INSPECTION: Ohio Turnpike Commission to test bridge inspections with drones
The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission in September will complete its first bridge inspection using an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), or drone.
Delaware County is fastest growing county in Ohio
Crumbling bridges, cratered roads and leaking metros
Erie County engineers drive $3M for bridge, road upgrades
NACE Announces New David P. Brand Safety Award
The worst bridges in the Miami Valley
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Area bridges are literally falling apart in the Miami valley.
Debate over road cost split delays Warren County development
The developer of the 4,500 home Union Village planned community is balking at a condition sought by Warren County spelling out who will pay for more than $50 million in road improvements around the development.
County leaders meet with oil and gas company reps to talk road use agreements
BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — When oil and gas companies sign agreements on county roads, they're held to their end of the bargain. And county leaders keep a close eye on the projects.
EverPower ready to ask for tax agreement
Project ready to proceed in Hardin County, but Logan County piece hinges on PILOT
Lucky babies and elections
By Jim Surber, I was struck by a recent headline that seemed radically different from normal. A pronouncement from Warren Buffett in his annual letter to Berkshire-Hathaway shareholders reads in part: "It’s an election year, and candidates can’t stop speaking about our country’s problems (which, of course, only they can solve).”
Bridges require special care when they travel over protected Ohio waterways
Chris Mullins crawled along the temporary catwalk and peered up at the bottom of the 104-year-old Florence Bridge. He saw only daylight in places where there should have been iron.
Sharon Budd’s catastrophic ordeal leads to new safety rules for bridge projects statewide
The family of a Lake Township schoolteacher critically injured when a rock was dropped on their car from an overpass has helped push through new state rules to limit the chances such a tragedy could happen to someone else.
Latest Road and Bridge Data by State Released
Ohio ranks #5 in Structurally Deficient or Functionally Obsolete bridges at 6,647 (24.6%) and 5,300 are county bridges.
No April Fools' Day Joke: 2,080 of Ohio's Bridges Need Structural Repair, New Analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation Data Finds
WASHINGTON, April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An analysis of the recently-released 2014 U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) National Bridge Inventory database finds good news and bad news when it comes to the most heavily traveled U.S. bridges. The good news is that there are 162 fewer structurally deficient structures in Ohio than there were in 2013. The bad news is that it means 61,000 structurally deficient bridges across the nation are still in need of significant repair. And it is a problem that hits close to home.
Time to Get Moving on Transportation Funding
Each year, I hope that the decisions I make in the legislature help to improve the lives of my constituents, create jobs in my community, and keep Ohio safe, healthy, thriving and economically sound. Though I wish that Ohio had a blank check and unlimited money to invest in the programs that our state needs, that just isn't reality; we have to carefully consider where we invest our limited dollars. After a father of four was tragically killed last month when a bridge collapsed in Cincinnati, it's very clear to me that investing in transportation and infrastructure needs to be a priority at both the state and federal levels.
Muskingum County Repurposes Steel for Cost-Effective Upgrades to Aging Bridge Inventory
In these times of tight budgets and aging infrastructure, Ohio's Muskingum County has adopted a creative sustainable practice for the replacement of structurally deficient and fuctionally obsolete short span bridges- recycling steel bridge beams.
Ohio highway funding plan lacks a road map
Ohio kicked off its construction season last year with transportation officials boasting that it would be the largest in the state’s history.
VMT fee: The right remedy at the right time?
When the 21st century reaches its half-way point, projected is a U.S. population of 400 million people; that’s up from the 300 million mark reached in late 2006, early 2007, if memory serves me well.
Ohio Department of Transportation launches partnership with counties, cities on bridge repair projects
This year, the Ohio Department of Transportation launched a partnership with counties and cities to fully fund the replacement or repair of locally-owned bridges.
Private ‘Sponsorships’ For Roadways To Fund Infrastructure?
Infrastructure investment seems to be a recurring political theme without a definitive solution. Roads and bridges across the country are in sore need of maintenance, but investment hasn’t kept up with that need. States have been left to seek creative ways to earn money, and roadway sponsorships are one piece of Ohio’s strategy.
Ohio Adds 10 Projects to Local Bridge Partnership Program
Ohio’s $120-million Local Bridge Partnership Program is adding ten bridges to a program that is already fixing or replacing 220 bridges in local communities throughout the state.
Ohio counties look for different ways to keep roads safe
With federal highway funding stalled, states are looking for different ways to keep roadways safe and in good repair. For Ohio Public Radio, WVXU’s Tana Weingartner reports that Hamilton County is adding a full-time Weights & Inspections Unit, one of fewer than 30 counties statewide to do so.
Lt. gov. presents $8.4M plan in support of bridge repairs
Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor joined other state and local officials Monday in Lafayette Township to unveil an $8.4 million program that will rebuild bridges in Medina and Lorain counties.
The Ohio Bridge Partnership program provides $120 million for the repair or replacement of more than 200 bridges statewide deemed “structurally deficient.”
ODOT and local officials announce Ohio Bridge Partnership
State Senator Larry Obhof (R–Medina) joined State Representative Mark Romanchuk (R–Ontario) and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor on Monday to announce bridge improvement projects in Richland County that will be undertaken as part of a new initiative between the Ohio Department of Transportation and local governments.
Let bridge-repair partnership span all quadrants of the state
Public safety in Ohio received a much needed boost recently when the Ohio Department of Transportation announced it has formed a $120 million partnership with counties and cities in the state to repair or replace 220 structurally deficient bridges over the next three years.
Ohio’s Bridge Partnership to invest $120 million in Local Bridges
The Ohio Department of Transportation has launched a new partnership with cities and counties that will fully fund the repair or replacement of locally owned bridges. Aptly named Ohio’s Bridge Partnership, the first-of-its-kind initiative will invest $120 million in local bridges over the next three years. More than 200 county and city bridges are expected to be repaired or replaced with work beginning on 40 of them as early as spring 2014. This is really a big deal. The initiative is important for several reasons. Let’s take a look.
Records: Ohio has 2,230 Bridges Needing Repair
DAYTON, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Transportation says that more than 2,200 bridges are structurally deficient statewide — but there isn’t enough money to fix them.
The Dayton Daily News reports that DOT records listed 2,230 structurally deficient bridges, but officials say lack of funding makes it difficult to keep up with repairs.
Counties Can't Keep Up With Deteriorating Bridges
Ohio Department of Transportation records indicate that 2,230 bridges statewide are rated as structurally deficient, but government agencies say they lack the funds to keep up on repairs.
“There’s not enough money to stay ahead of it,” Montgomery County Engineer Paul Gruner said. “The more we let them go, the more it costs to replace them, and we need more money to be able to replace them.”
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