News Releases

Federal stimulus money aids county bridge projects

Jul 22, 2009

Fort Defiance Construction & Supply, Inc. will begin Monday on the first of three Huron County bridge projects to receive ARRA "Stimulus" funding according to County Engineer, Joe Kovach. The $219,814 project is located in Wakeman Township. 

Huron County's Ogan Road Bridge replacement project is one of a very few county level projects to be awarded a portion of the more than $1.93 million in transportation improvement projects earmarked for Ohio. Kovach noted, “Huron County is fortunate to have, not one, but, three bridges slated to receive stimulus funding. That's the most county level bridge projects to be funded anywhere in Ohio". 

Monday's construction marks Huron County 's first of more than $730,000 of President Barack Obama’s massive economic stimulus package designated for improvements to roads, bridges, ports, highways, public transit and rail development throughout Ohio. 

In Huron County, the Ogan Road bridge project has Fort Defiance Construction partnering with local suppliers and contractors to complete the bridge replacement project. Oglesby Construction, Lake Erie Construction, Erie Blacktop, Wm. Dauch Concrete and Messenburg Brothers will contribute towards the effort as yet another tired old Huron County bridge is replaced.

"Each bridge project had to meet a number of state and federal criteria" Kovach said. "We were fortunate to have a number of bridge projects designed and ready to go when the call went out for 'shovel-ready' projects". The County Engineer mentioned how these three bridge replacement projects will mean work for dozens of construction tradesmen, and will greatly assist the county's bridge replacement program. A program that has managed to replace over 130 of the county's more than 400 bridges in the past 16 years.

The three Stimulus funded bridges, in Wakeman Township on Ogan Road bridge, Norwalk Township on Gibbs Road  and in Plymouth on North Street will mean better, safer and much more reliable transportation for the area's School buses, fire trucks, large agri-business implements and heavy trucks crossing the bridges each day.

While most bridge projects take three to four months to build and require dozens workers from a variety of occupations, carpenters, asphalt layers and equipment operators, the Huron County Engineer's office has developed an expedited design and construction process that, " cuts that time, roughly, in half ",  Kovach indicated.

Huron County residents know the Engineer's bridges aren't fancy. "We use a simple, yet heavy duty design" Kovach said, “It’s cost effective and simple to construct". Then again, the tight economy might have a lot to do with the competitive bidding. The Ogan Road Bridge was estimated to cost $291,555 “Kovach said, Fort Defiance Construction's bid of $219,814 bested five other bidders seeking the bridge project."That's a savings we can look forward to as we plan our next bridge project ".

ARRA Stimulus funded bridge replacement projects for Huron County:

North Street bridge replacement

Cost:     $225,347

Gibbs Road bridge replacement

Estm:    $300,000

Ogan Road bridge replacement

Cost:     $219,814

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