Uhrichsville administration is working to make sure a bridge project goes forward as planned but they’re hitting some complications.
The replacement of West Third Street bridge is $1.2 million and must proceed as the city received 95% of the funding through the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Councilwoman and finance committee chair Polly Clark says they will meet with bank representatives since the city is unable to cover the remaining cost.
“The past administration committed to that project. The balance due for that project on 3rd Street Bridge is $220,000.”
Construction for the bridge over Big Stillwater Creek will include new approach slabs, backwalls, and abutment repair work.
Work is expected to begin in spring 2025, but Law Director Jeff Merklin says they have discovered some legal concerns that need addressed beforehand.
“The issues, even legally, very dark right now because apparently there’s six properties, we need to get approval appropriated for that use. They only have three so far. One of the properties is in bankruptcy which is problematic and two of the other properties, apparently the owners are deceased, and nobody knows who the heirs are. Apparently, there’s some deadlines, funding, it just sounds like a disaster to me.”
Councilman Matt Fox commented that it seems like, “a lot of it was not researched properly and planned out very well.”
“I don’t know that’s correct for sure, but that sure seems like what I know so far,” Merklin noted.
Merklin asked council, at the October 10th meeting, to approve a resolution to obtain outside council to assist with legal processing. Council sent it to the finance committee for review.
Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2024