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Latest News

07/23/2020

Assistant Engineer Needed in Gallia County

Gallia County - Job Opportunity - The Gallia County Engineer's office is in search of an Assistant Engineer.  Gallia County Job Posting Assistant Engineer 

07/23/2020

Civil Engineer/Project Manager Needed in Muskingum County

Muskingum County - Job Opportunity - The Muskingum County Engineer's office is in search of a Civil Engineer/Project Manager. The position is full time.  Muskingum County Civil Engineer Job Description

04/06/2020

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Enacts Stay at Home Order concerning COVID-19

Governor Mike DeWine along with Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton have enacted a stay-at-home order as the number of cases in the state continues to rise.

Update: Dr. Acton issued a new stay at home order that begins on April 7, 2020 and lasts through May 1, 2020. This order prohibits holding gatherings of any size and closes all nonessential businesses. It does NOT prohibit essential activities like going to the grocery store, receiving medical care, or taking your pet for a walk. Residents can return home from out of state and can leave the state.

Ohio Department of Health Stay at Home Order

Helpful resources and guidelines:

CISA Memo and Guidance on Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce

Stay at Home FAQ

Information on Stay at Home Order

We encourage you to stay up-to-date with information at www.coronavirus.ohio.gov.

Also, if you have questions, call the Ohio Department of Health hotline at 1-833-4ASK-ODH.

04/06/2020

Drop in traffic and gas consumption amid pandemic could impact ODOT funding for roads and bridges

Cleveland, Ohio - News 5 Cleveland - According to Governor Mike DeWine, the drop in traffic is being felt at the pump. He says gas consumption is down 30 to 40 percent. “That would obviously impact our budget,” Bruning said.

03/30/2020

Coronavirus: Road repair, construction continue — for the moment — in central Ohio

Columbus, Ohio - (Columbus Dispatch) While much of central Ohio is keeping close to home under a state order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, some of the men and women who build and repair roads and bridges remain on the job, ensuring critical infrastructure is safe and available. (please note a subscription may be required to read the full article)

03/23/2020

ODOT Transportation Waiver for Essential Goods

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WAIVER

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is modifying the process for haulers carrying heavy loads of essential goods.

Generally, Ohio requires haulers with loads classified as “oversized” to seek advanced permission from ODOT before they are legally allowed to travel in the state.

To assist in the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, ODOT will modify the process for haulers carrying heavy or oversized loads of food, non-alcoholic beverages, medical supplies, cleaning products, and other household goods.  Haulers carrying these essential goods can download and print the permit at https://transportation.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odot/

02/10/2020

Hamilton County's Engineer Is Retiring

Cincinnati, Ohio - Hamilton County Engineer Ted Hubbard is retiring on Feb. 29 after working for 38 years at the county engineer's office.

01/13/2020

Ohio Gas Tax Increase Will Fund Road Repairs in 2020

Columbus Underground - Columbus, Ohio, By Tyler Buchanan

Tim Schumm is already looking forward to spring. County engineers like him also serve as amateur meteorologists. Forget baseball. Spring means it’s paving season, and the Henry County official knows the recent influx of gas tax revenue will help to get an extra 11 miles of road paved this spring. His office couldn’t have paid for those miles otherwise.

01/06/2020

Butler County roundabout boom will continue in 2020 and beyond

Journal News - Butler County, Hamilton, Ohio — The latest roundabout project keeps Butler County on pace to include more than 30 by 2022, which the county engineer said underlines officials are “no doubt a believer in them.”
 
 
“It’s probably the No. 1 tool we look toward in our toolbox,” said Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens. “We don’t cast out the traditional intersection, and we’ll look at that. There are just a lot of factors that become involved.”
01/06/2020

County, cities sitting on excess salt, preparing for usage

The Morning Journal - Loraine and Erie Counties  - Although salt supply tonnage is difficult to estimate for the rest of the winter, both the county and its municipalities are sitting on an excess of salt from the previous winter. Salt is ordered throughout the winter as needed, with the county averaging a little over 11,000 tons a year over the past 15 years, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

County tonnage: Going into the new season, assistant county engineer Bob Klaiber said the county has 5,000 tons of salt on hand as of mid-December. This amount of leftover tonnage is a bit more than average in comparison to previous years, Klaiber said.

12/19/2019

Grant funding for speed and passing zone studies OK’d

The Daily Jeffersonian - Guernsey County  - The Guernsey County Commissioners recently approved a passing zone safety study and a speed zone study. The County Engineer’s Office put a request in for funding and received two grants, one for each study. According to County Engineer Paul Sherry, the passing zone study is a broad study of all the paved roads in the county to help determine where the pavement markers should be changed from a double yellow line to a single passing line and on which side of the road it should be.

12/19/2019

Roundabouts Contribute to Safety, less Crashes in Butler County

Butler County Connection - “We currently have the 18th roundabout in Butler County that we were involved with, and it was just constructed at Hamilton Mason Road and Gilmore Road,” said Traffic Engineer Matt Loeffler of the Butler County Engineer’s Office.

12/09/2019

Boothe recognized as County Engineer of Year

Gallipolis Daily Tribune - Brett A. Boothe, P.E., P.S., Gallia County Engineer, received the award of 2019 County Engineer of the Year. 

08/31/2019

Inspectors work to find bridge issues before they become problems

Columbus Dispatch --Columbus, OH --As morning commuters passed overhead, Maxwell Faulkner donned his scuba gear and slipped into Blacklick Creek to check underwater sections of an East Side bridge for any signs of deterioration. Across town, at about the same time, David Dibling, assistant Franklin County bridge engineer, was climbing through an access door more than 100 feet above Lane Avenue on the Ohio State University campus to inspect cables supporting the bridge that carries traffic and pedestrians over the Olentangy River. It’s the midyear point for the Franklin County Engineer’s office’s annual bridge-inspection program. On any given day, people such as Faulkner and Dibling are hard at work down low and up high to ensure that structures around the county are safe for vehicles and people.

08/30/2019

Lake County engineers discuss state of the county's bridges

With bodies of water like Big Creek and the Grand and Chagrin rivers running through Lake County, motorists and pedestrians alike depend on many bridges. The (Lake) county’s engineering department is responsible for 304 bridges, roughly one-third of the total amount with the remaining bridges falling under Ohio Department of Transportation, local municipalities and private railroad lines. “If it’s over a body of water and it’s in (Lake) County then it’s our responsibility,” County Engineer Jim Gills explained the distinction.

07/15/2019

Greene gets its first female county engineer

XENIA — Greene County officially has its first female county engineer.

Thursday’s appointment by the Republican Central Committee makes Stephanie Goff, P.E., P.S., the only current female county-wide elected official in Greene County. Goff’s new title also makes her one of three female county engineers in the state.

“The vote was unanimous to appoint Stephanie Goff to the position of Greene County Engineer,” Jan Basham, central committee chair, said. “She is an asset to the county with her experience and skill set … [and] will serve Greene County well.”

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.”

06/04/2019

Engineer to retire, cites work to restore Greene’s covered bridges

Bob Geyer said he made one promise when he was elected as the Greene County engineer in 1996. “I will leave the county in better shape than I found it. And I think I accomplished that,” said Geyer. He announced this week that he will retire in May.

05/15/2019

Ottawa County Now Accepting Applicants for Deputy Drainage Engineer position

The Ottawa County Engineer’s Office is accepting applications and resumes through May 17, 2019 for the position of Deputy Drainage Engineer.

View the job description listing the requirements and duties of the position. 

 

05/15/2019

New county engineer fulfills dream as he prepares for summer projects

FREMONT - Newly appointed Sandusky County Engineer Carlos Baez came to Fremont in 1994 from Colombia as an exchange student at Ross High School, and developed his love for engineering. After graduating from the University of Toledo and working as a civil engineer for the City of Oregon, he came back to his home away from home to join the Sandusky County Engineer's Office in 2010 with the goal of becoming the county's engineer.

04/03/2019

Chris Fauber named Highland County engineer

Highland County commissioners on Wednesday approved Chris Fauber as the new county engineer, replacing longtime engineer Dean Otworth, who resigned last month to take a job at the Ohio Department of Transportation. Commissioner Jeff Duncan said Fauber, who was the deputy engineer until Wednesday’s vote, will fill the seat until the Highland County Republican Central Committee officially appoints someone.

04/03/2019

Ohio legislature OKs 10.5-cent gas-tax hike, ends front-plate requirement

Ohio drivers will pay an additional 10.5 cents per gallon in gas tax and, starting next summer, will no longer need a front license plate under a two-year transportation budget that got final legislative approval on Tuesday, April 2.

02/06/2019

ODOT director stresses Ohio facing road funding crisis without new revenue

Columbus, OH –As Gov. Mike DeWine and state lawmakers consider a possible gas-tax increase, Ohio’s transportation director warned Tuesday that the state’s road maintenance and infrastructure projects are facing an “impending crisis” unless more money is generated.

01/23/2019

Statewide coalition sounds warning about Ohio’s lack of funding for deteriorating roads, bridges

Growing statewide coalition of business, local government and transportation industry leaders launch effort
to educate Ohioans on looming transportation funding shortfall

Columbus, OH – Sharply reduced funding for vital improvements to Ohio’s deteriorating roads and bridges presents a major economic and transportation problem according to a statewide coalition advocating for adequate infrastructure spending.

01/22/2019

Time to find ways to meet Ohio’s road, transit needs

Columbus, Ohio — Among the first orders of business for Gov. Mike DeWine and the 133rd Ohio General Assembly
will be setting a new two-year transportation budget. For a good start, they should consider a plan by a statewide coalition to get a shriveling transportation capital program back on track. Fix Our Roads Ohio, a group including county governments, chambers of commerce, regional planning bodies and transportation organizations, is sounding the alarm: Even as Ohio’s roads, bridges and transit systems become more congested and in need of repair, transportation funding is about to take a dive.

01/22/2019

Clinton County Engineering Assistant Smith honored

Clinton County —Gary Smith, Engineering Assistant at the Clinton County Engineer’s Office, was awarded the CEAO David Brand Safety Award at the County Commissioners Association of Ohio and County Engineers Association of Ohio Winter Conference in December.

12/21/2018

Bauserman named top county engineer

Delaware County — Delaware County Engineer Chris Bauserman, P.E., P.S., and staff received the 2018 County Engineer of the Year award from the County Engineers Association of Ohio (CEAO) during its annual business meeting held Dec. 9-11.

11/01/2018

New traffic signage at two Guernsey County intersections

Guernsey County — Based on the results of a grant-funded safety study, new traffic signage has been posted at two intersections in Guernsey County — Ohio Avenue and Corduroy Road, and North Eighth Street Road and Lemon Hill Road. 

11/01/2018

Aging bridges and broken-down buses rank among Hamilton County voters' top concerns

CINCINNATI -- The state of the region's roads, bridges and public transit sits at the front of Hamilton County voters' minds as the 2018 midterm elections approach, with more than one high-profile race hanging in the balance.

10/22/2018

Bridge to be saved, Grant approved for covered bridge

Washington County - Washington County Engineer Roger Wright said rot has set in on the structural members holding the bridge up. Work to repair it will be complex and require craftsmen with specialized skills, he said.

A month ago, he said, a grant application to the federal government was approved, and the work will probably be scheduled in the 2020 fiscal year.

“We were able to get rather good funding,” he said. The federal government through two programs will pay 95 percent of the cost, which Wright estimated to be between $700,000 and $750,000.

10/10/2018

Snow salt prices rise in Portage, state

Portage County - Last winter may not have seemed particularly harsh to the average Ohio motorist. 

But the high number of small “snow events,” each requiring salt, plus the high number of days when temperatures fell below freezing and rose above freezing in a single day, took a toll on salt supplies, as well as the condition of pavement. 

09/19/2018

Infrastructure projects seek $11M in state funding for 2019

YOUNGSTOWN - Mahoning and Trumbull counties and several municipalities are competing for more than $11 million in Ohio Public Works Commission grant and loan funding for infrastructure projects in 2019.

06/26/2018

Woolpert's Cliff Lovin Scholarship is Accepting Applications

 

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, 2018, and the recipient will be announced during the 2018 Ohio GIS Conference, September 24-26, in Columbus, Ohio.

For application information, please see the links below:

Cliff Lovin Scholarship Information

Cliff Lovin Scholarship Application

05/17/2018

Now Accepting Scholarship Applications for Civil Engineering and/or Surveying Students

CEAO’s Board of Directors has established a scholarship program for Civil Engineering and/or Surveying students attending school in the State of Ohio. The intent of the Board is to increase awareness of the County Engineering profession and to encourage students and current county employees to become registered both as a Professional Engineer and as a Professional Surveyor.

Scholarships will be awarded to Civil Engineering and Surveying students at the Junior and Senior level of a Bachelors program and to current county employees who are interested in working toward their dual registration.

The 2018 Scholarship Application should be submitted directly to the CEAO office; selections will be made by the CEAO Scholarship Committee. Official transcripts from any college level courses you have completed must be included. Please return the completed application along with your supporting documentation by June 15, 2018 to:

County Engineers Association of Ohio
Attention: Scholarship Committee
6500 Busch Blvd. Suite 100
Columbus, OH 43229-1738

 

02/28/2018

Holmes County Road 160 project earns award

WINESBURG — A project that caused plenty of grumbling and complaining prior to its completion has proven to be an extremely successful undertaking. 

The Holmes County Road 160 intersection project has been selected as the winner of the 2018 Outstanding Highway Project Award by the Cuyahoga Valley Section of the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) in the under $5 million category. 

02/22/2018

Civil engineering a difficult, but satisfying job for Keaton

Mount Vernon - The field of engineering is intricately woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. 

"If you think about it, anything and everything you think of at some point in time probably had an engineer involved in it," Knox County Engineer Cameron Keaton told the news.

01/31/2018

Ohio ranks among worst states with deficient bridges

Ohio has some of the most structurally deficient bridges in the U.S., according to a new report.

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association released an analysis on Monday that shows Ohio has the 12th-highest number of structurally deficient bridges in the country.

01/31/2018

Summit County OKs $5 motor vehicle license fees hike to pay for bridge, road projects

Starting next year Summit County residents will pay $5 more to register each of their motor vehicles.

01/26/2018

Extreme winter weather means more potholes in Clark County, region

The most severe winter weather in recent years also has produced more potholes on Clark County roads.

“Some counties are saying the potholes are worse this year,” Ohio Department of Transportation spokeswoman Mandi Dillon said in a statement.

Clark County officials expect to see issues with potholes around this time every year, Clark County Engineer Johnathan Burr said, but this winter there have been a few more than usual.
01/26/2018

Utica Shale helps fund road repairs

A new report by Energy In Depth and the Ohio Oil and Gas Association (OOGA) finds that oil and gas operators have paid more than $302.6 million for road, bridge and culvert improvements via the Road Use Maintenance Agreement (RUMA), which is an agreement between operators and counties to ensure road damages by heavy equipment being moved for shale drilling and pipeline work are either prevented or repaired.

01/26/2018

Officials: Mahoning County's pothole-palooza likely to get worse

Potholes have begun to devour many Mahoning County roads, and with wildly varying temperatures, county Engineer Pat Ginnetti said it’s likely to get worse.

“These roads are falling apart,” Ginnetti said.

01/26/2018

County Council holds license fee hearing

Summit County Council took another step toward approving a new fee by holding a public hearing on the proposal at its Jan. 22 meeting.

Summit County Engineer Alan Brubaker proposed a $5 license fee last year to help pay for road and bridge repairs. The public hearing was a necessary procedural step in enacting the new fee.

10/12/2017

ARTBA Attends White House Transportation Meetings

ARTBA President & CEO Pete Ruane and other senior staff made several trips to the White House this week to discuss the Trump administration’s infrastructure package and regulatory reform efforts. Paul Gruner, Montgomery County Engineer in Dayton, Ohio, represented ARTBA at a White House briefing on the administration’s infrastructure package. 

07/27/2017

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.

07/25/2017

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.

07/25/2017

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.

07/25/2017

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.

06/16/2017

Cornell Robertson named acting Franklin County engineer

Cornell Robertson has been named Franklin County’s acting engineer.

06/06/2017

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.

06/06/2017

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.

05/24/2017

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.

05/24/2017

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.

05/04/2017

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?

05/04/2017

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.

05/04/2017

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.

05/04/2017

Longtime County Engineer Sharrett to retire after 43 years

Ron Sharrett, the longtime engineer of Vinton County, has announced he will retire next month.

04/25/2017

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.

03/24/2017

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. 

03/23/2017

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.

 

 

03/23/2017

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.

03/10/2017

County engineer gets money for projects, equipment

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.

03/09/2017

Holmes County voters approve sales tax increase

Holmes County voters recently approved a countywide sales tax increase to support improvements to local infrastructure.

03/09/2017

Salt reserve taking mild winter in stride

SALEM TOWNSHIP - While many communities throughout Ohio are dealing with significant surpluses of road salt due to the mild winter, Ottawa County has not been among them.

03/09/2017

County engineer reports on Rover pipeline progress

MANSFIELD - Richland County Engineer Adam Gove says construction crews for the Rover natural gas pipeline have started clearing trees along the route and hope to have installation of the first of two parallel pipelines completed and operating by June.

03/09/2017

How a Michigan County Road Got Stuck in Regulation Purgatory

President Trump renewed his call for a $1 trillion infrastructure package during his speech Tuesday to Congress. But if that money is to do any good, Washington must first get out of the builders’ way. A good example of a shovel-ready project trapped in regulation purgatory is Michigan’s County Road 595, which has been blocked for years by the Environmental Protection Agency.

03/06/2017

Belmont County commissioners contemplate license plate fee

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County Engineer Terry Lively asked the Board of Commissioners on Wednesday to place an additional $10 fee on license plates.

03/06/2017

Erie County boasts robust bridge rating

FLORENCE TWP. — Erie County engineers don’t live by the motto of “crossing that bridge later.”

03/06/2017

Engineer: Funds needed for bridge repairs

ZANESVILLE - Muskingum County Engineer Doug Davis recently has asked the county commissioners to consider adopting a resolution authorizing the $5 supplemental license fee.

03/02/2017

Belmont County engineer looking for money to upgrade roads

BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — The Belmont County Sheriff's Office is requesting critical funding, as officials say neglected roads are crumbling.

03/02/2017

County engineer attends Trump address

LANCASTER - Fairfield County Engineer Jeremiah Upp said he and others were not expecting much when they attended President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday.

02/27/2017

Trumbull engineer’s office to have truck washing facility by fall

WARREN - The Trumbull County commissioners authorized a loan agreement Thursday for a $500,000 zero-interest loan from the Local Government Innovation Fund to help the county engineer build a centralized truck- and bus-washing facility at the engineer’s office on North River Road.

02/27/2017

Increased license plate fee may be on ballot

ZANESVILLE - Muskingum County residents may be asked to pay an additional $10 when they register their vehicle.

02/27/2017

Ditzler to state lawmakers: Get some guts

Mahoning County officials expressed a variety of opinions on a state legislative proposal to allow county commissioners to enact a $5 surcharge on Ohio license plates to fund transportation improvement efforts.

02/27/2017

Proposed license plate fee increase targets road and bridge improvements

Montgomery County Engineer Paul Gruner said the license plate fee counties use to fix roads and bridges hasn’t kept up with inflation.

02/22/2017

Cost could soon rise for Ohio driver's licenses, plates

Gas taxes may not go up, but the new state transportation budget could require Ohio drivers to pay more to get a new driver's license or license plates.

02/21/2017

Using data to drive Licking County road work

Kim Christian works to keep drivers safe on county roads., but she doesn’t drive a plow or fill pot holes.

02/21/2017

Battle expected over annexation request from Jerome to Dublin

Union County Commissioner Gary Lee discusses the annexation petition and paperwork on the conference table in front of him with a touch of weariness in his voice.

02/17/2017

Boothe addresses concerns with state finance committee

GALLIPOLIS — While Gallia County Engineer Brett Boothe addressed the House Finance Committee of the Ohio General Assembly Tuesday with regard to concerns about the 2018 to 2019 state transportation budget, the engineer said he pushed hard to address the needs of rural southeast Ohio and Gallia County in reference to the budget in pushing amendments to the plan.

 
02/17/2017

More than 1,600 Ohio bridges deemed structurally deficient

DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) - A new report says nearly 56,000 thousand United States bridges need major repairs, with Ohio landing the 9th worst spot on the list.

02/17/2017

Mahoning County Engineer says road improvement budget is tight

MAHONING COUNTY, Ohio - As county engineers make plans for summer road resurfacing, they say funding is making it harder and harder to pave all the roads they would like.

02/13/2017

ROADS/BRIDGES: Overpass crumbles onto I-75 median in Bay County, Mich.

Mackinaw Road bridge over I-75 in Bay County, Mich., which is not slated for reconstruction until 2019, is closed due to a collapse in the pavement.

02/13/2017

Trumbull County buys four CNG trucks

WARREN — Natural gas-powered trucks are the future in Trumbull County.

02/13/2017

Belmont engineer welcomes assistant

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Engineer’s Office has taken on a new assistant engineer with Daniel Boltz.

02/13/2017

Restoration of county computer data could be weeks away

NEWARK – Nine days after a ransomware computer virus forced the shutdown of the county's computer system, it could be weeks before Licking County government returns to normal.

02/13/2017

Hoagland Bridge Bill Should Pass

Keeping any sort of structure in good condition requires regular maintenance and, on occasion, replacement of worn-out components. Ensuring money is available to do that can be a challenge, but it is prudent financial management.

02/13/2017

Mahoning County Engineer calls for funding changes

BOARDMAN, Ohio - Well, it's the time of year when we start to see potholes start to pop up along area roads.

02/13/2017

ROADS/BRIDGES: Governors to submit list of 300 infrastructure projects to Trump administration

The nation’s governors will submit a list of more than 300 infrastructure projects to President Trump’s administration this week, aiming to share billions he is urging for nationwide construction projects.

02/08/2017

County engineer talks about sagging infrastructure

If you’re tired of continually dodging the many potholes that have sprung up in recent months – or if you have been unfortunate enough to have hit one and damaged your vehicle – it won’t do any good to blame the county engineer’s office.

02/07/2017

Hoagland introduces bill to help bridges

COLUMBUS, Ohio — State Sen. Frank Hoagland announced Friday that he introduced legislation to help improve infrastructure in the state of Ohio.

 
02/06/2017

FUNDING: GOP Senator, House Democrat propose separate highway funding plans

Two members of Congress—a Senate Republican and a House Democrat—offered separate transportation proposals Feb. 1 that include shoring up revenues for the Highway Trust Fund beyond 2020, when current multiyear authorization and funding legislation expires.

02/02/2017

Senator Brown and colleagues create proposal to rebuild America's infrastructure

LOGAN - Improvements could be made to structurally deficient bridges in Hocking County if President Donald Trump follows through with his promise to invest a trillion dollars in America's infrastructure.

01/30/2017

ROADS/BRIDGES: Largest concrete surface in Michigan to be replaced

A two-year closure of I-75 between Detroit and Downriver will commence this coming weekend. The Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) $200 million construction project includes replacing all of the concrete on the I-75 Rouge River bridge, the largest concrete surface in the state.

01/30/2017

Brent Spence Bridge rumored to be second on Trump’s infrastructure priority list

CINCINNATI —There were mixed signals Wednesday about a possible replacement for the Brent Spence Bridge.

01/30/2017

Senator Brown calls for $1 trillion spending on roads and bridges

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and several other Democrats have joined together with a plan to spend nearly $1 trillion dollars to improve the nation's infrastructure. 

01/18/2017

Licking County TID focuses on Jug Street, Ohio 310

NEWARK - The Licking County Transportation Improvement District will focus its efforts on two road projects in the western part of the county, both near major, growing commercial developments.

01/18/2017

Ohio’s highest bridge opens to traffic after 6 years of construction

After six years of construction, traffic is once again moving on the Jeremiah Morrow Bridge, a section of Interstate 71 that spans the Little Miami River connecting Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati in Ohio. Limaohio.com reports that state transportation officials expect the project to be completed within the $104 million budget.

01/17/2017

Pothole problem? Report it to road crews

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Thursday’s heavy rains gave way to giant potholes Friday, giving road crews much more than they can handle.

01/17/2017

Busy stretches of Butler County roadway to see changes in 2017

BUTLER COUNTY - The Butler County Engineer’s Office plans nearly $18 million in road projects this year throughout the county’s 13 townships.

01/11/2017

Legal load limit on most county roads to be reduced

Hocking County Engineer Bill Shaw announced today the reduction of the legal limit by 50% on all county roads will be effective February 1, 2017 until April 30, 2017.

01/11/2017

Vrooman Road Bridge project lawsuit officially dismissed

There are no additional financial costs to Lake County for its settlement with the Ruhlin Co. over the Vrooman Bridge project.

01/11/2017

Mercer County Engineer completes bridge inspections

CELINA — Mercer County Engineer Jim Wiechart announced that the inspections of Mercer County’s 394 bridges on township and county roads have been completed. Wiechart and county bridge supervisor T.J. Smalley completed the inspections before the end of 2016.

01/06/2017

Clark County drivers cautioned as bitter cold to remain

Bitterly cold temperatures will remain in the area through the weekend, as temperatures struggle to get into the 20s following the first snowfall of the year Thursday.

01/06/2017

Corn stalks saving tax dollars, increasing road safety in Franklin County

FRANKLIN CO., OH (WCMH) — Driving in the winter months can be challenging, even dangerous, but one product of the summer months is making that easier – and saving taxpayer money in the process.

01/05/2017

Woolpert Contracted to Collect Orthoimagery for Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Jan. 4, 2017) — Woolpert has been contracted to acquire high-resolution orthoimagery for the entire state of Ohio, which is roughly 41,276 square miles, by the Ohio Geographically Referenced Information Program (OGRIP).

01/05/2017

County retirees amass more than 100 years

CELINA - The Mercer County Engineer's Office took a huge hit at the end of 2016 when three longtime employees retired after more than 100 years of combined service.
01/04/2017

Surber continues to work with less money

GREENVILLE – With responsibility for over 521-miles of roadway, Darke County Engineer James P. Surber once again demonstrated his department can accomplish a lot with less. He pointed out that although his department saw an increase in state funding, total receipts for 2016 were down by over $8,000. 

01/03/2017

Beck wraps up seven terms as county engineer

MANSFIELD - When he officially retires Sunday, Richland County Engineer Tom Beck will wrap up seven terms in office — which has made him the longest-serving elected official recently in countywide office.

01/03/2017

Lake County commissioners approve settlement agreement with Ruhlin Co. over Vrooman Road bridge project

Lake County’s dispute with the Ruhlin Co. over the Vrooman Road bridge project is coming to a close.

12/30/2016

City, county and state road warriors prepare for winter

LOGAN — Although we’ve recently had temperatures reaching in the 60s, winter is not over and it’s a sure bet that sooner or later Old Man Winter is going to catch up and wreak havoc on our community.

12/30/2016

Shaking in Adams County

WEST UNION, Ohio – It is time to shake your box in Adams County.

12/29/2016

Belmont County Engineer Fred Bennett Hangs Up His Hat

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio - Fred Bennett has been the Belmont County Engineer for more than four decades, but at the end of the week he is hanging up his hat.

12/21/2016

How cornstalks prevent snowdrifts on Franklin County roads

Dean Ringle is using a powerful force to fight Mother Nature’s winter wrath — cornstalks.

12/16/2016

Opinions differ on how to fund broken bridge fixes

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – More and more bridges in the Miami Valley are falling apart and it’s starting to impact drivers. This after a 2 NEWS Investigation exposed the problem earlier this year.

12/16/2016

The Problem With Our Infrastructure Isn't Lack Of Spending, It's Regulations

When it comes to improving our nation's crumbling infrastructure, Doug Davis has one nice thing to say about the Obama administration.

12/16/2016

Morrow’s newly elected county officials sworn in

Morrow’s newly elected county officials were sworn into office following the November election.

12/16/2016

First snowfall for county

XENIA — Tuesday’s weather brought snow removal trucks to county roads.

12/16/2016

Two Allen County bridges lose weight limits, open to all traffic

LIMA — Work is continuing on upgrading the bridge infrastructure in Allen County, with two bridges no longer carrying weight limits.

12/14/2016

Clark County road crews prep for cold blasts after first big snowfall

CLARK COUNTY - The first major blast of winter blew into Clark County on Tuesday and a major drop in temperatures today could make it hard to keep roads clear.

12/14/2016

Ready for more snow

The Portage County Engineer's staff is ready for more snow.

12/12/2016

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.

12/12/2016

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.

12/12/2016

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.

12/12/2016

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.

12/12/2016

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.

12/12/2016

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.

12/12/2016

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.

12/01/2016

County ready for snow to fly

Seneca County departments are making annual preparations for snowfall and residents should too.

11/16/2016

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.

11/16/2016

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.

11/15/2016

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.

11/14/2016

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.

10/26/2016

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.

10/17/2016

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.

10/12/2016

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.

09/23/2016

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.

09/15/2016

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.

08/26/2016

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.

08/22/2016

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.

08/19/2016

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.

05/31/2016

Delaware County is fastest growing county in Ohio

DELAWARE COUNTY, Ohio - Delaware County continues to grow and remains the number one fastest growing county in Ohio.

05/31/2016

Crumbling bridges, cratered roads and leaking metros

America's infrastructure is crumbling.

As millions of Americans head out this holiday weekend, they'll drive on roads that are not in very good shape. The American Automobile Association estimates pothole damage alone costs drivers $3 billion a year. Nearly 1 in 10 bridges nationwide is structurally deficient, meaning that while they are safe to use, they are deteriorating and must be regularly monitored, inspected and maintained.

05/26/2016

Erie County engineers drive $3M for bridge, road upgrades

FLORENCE TWP. — Erie County engineers mapped out a direct route to improve area infrastructure in the most cost-effective manner possible.

05/24/2016

NACE Announces New David P. Brand Safety Award

NACE—along with all our members and partner organizations—continue to keep local road safety in the forefront of our mission. During the Annual Conference, we announced the creation of the David P. Brand Safety Award.

05/03/2016

The worst bridges in the Miami Valley

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Area bridges are literally falling apart in the Miami valley.

03/09/2016

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.

03/09/2016

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.

03/07/2016

EverPower ready to ask for tax agreement

Project ready to proceed in Hardin County, but Logan County piece hinges on PILOT

03/07/2016

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).”

02/16/2016

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.

02/02/2016

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.

07/14/2015

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.

04/02/2015

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.

03/04/2015

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.

02/23/2015

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.

02/23/2015

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.

07/18/2014

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.

04/22/2014

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.”

11/25/2013

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.

11/15/2013

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. 

11/08/2013

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.

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Members in the News

07/27/2017

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.

07/25/2017

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.

07/25/2017

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.

07/25/2017

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.

11/03/2014

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.

10/21/2014

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.

08/27/2014

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.

08/26/2014

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.

05/09/2013

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.

05/09/2013

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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