Re: (OH) ODOT plan released

On Nov 29, 10:16 pm, "Sherman L. Cahal" <shermanca...@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
http://www.irontontribune.com/articles/2007/11/29/news/news086.txt
ODOT plan released
By Benita Heath, The Ironton Tribune, November 29, 2007

*sigh* Two important projects are delayed indefinitely. The Ironton-
Russell Bridge is currently well over 80-years old, has a bridge
rating of _FOUR_, carries a substantial amount of traffic on a bridge
deck that measures only 20 feet wide, and has numerous retrofits in
place to strengthen the steel. The bridge currently closes when the
temperature dips below 0F due to the brittleness in the steel.

The Chesapeake-Proctorville Bypass is _almost_ complete sans a
critical section in the middle. A bypass exists of Proctorville, from
the East Huntington Bridge to the already-improved sections near
Athelia, and a bypass exists of Chesapeake and has since 1989, from
the Robert C. Byrd Bridge to the U.S. Route 52 interchange. And a
section in the center is indefinitely delayed...

BTW, ODOT is $3 billion in debt!


FYI here is a link to the ODOT Business Plan referred to in the
article
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/2008%2D2009BusinessPlan/

--

As the Ohio Department of Transportation unveils its 2008-2009
business plan, it appears unlikely that Lawrence County residents will
see any work done on two anticipated projects in the immediate future.

The start date for replacing the Ironton-Russell Bridge remains at
least six years away. Originally, when the project was let in 2006,
bids for a one-tower structure far exceeded the state's estimate of
$99 million. The lowest bid came in at $110 million.

The state is working with consultants to come up with a two-tower
structure with a desired price tag of around $80 million.

"The date tentatively is 2013,'' said Kathleen Fuller, public
information officer for ODOT District 9. "We are working to move that
up.''

However, the second phase of the Chesapeake Bypass that would relocate
Ohio 7 at Proctorville to connect it at Chesapeake remains at a Tier 2
status. Landslides that slowed down construction of the first phase of
the bypass that relocated Ohio 7 around Proctorville forced engineers
to reevaluate the topography of the area. More geotechnical work was
required.

"Phase II is in a redesign mode,'' Fuller said. "The redesign is
nearing completion. It is on hold because there is no funding for the
project itself. ... At the time we completed Phase I, Phase II was not
considered a Tier 1 project. Whether it gets moved up, I don't know.''

Every other year ODOT must revise its business plan that is used as a
forecasting tool looking at projects six to seven years in advance.
The transportation budget is approved every two years but ODOT needs a
plan that is more long-term.

"The plan allows us to look at those future years because we have such
a sizable capital improvement budget," said Scott Varner, ODOT Deputy
Director. "Those projects take years to plan and tens and hundreds of
millions to build."

In a press release, ODOT Director James Beasley stated, "Ohio cannot
simply build its way out of congestion. We must fully embrace a multi-
modal approach -- with an integrated network of highway, rail, transit,
aviation and waterway. Our transportation infrastructure also
contributes to job creation, so we must broaden our criteria for
project selection to better understand the impacts to economic
development and urban revitalization."

What is moving forward is the Portsmouth Bypass in Scioto County that
will create Scioto 823 from U.S. 23 just north of Lucasville to U.S.
52 at Wheelersburg. Structure removal, such as garages and barns, on
land on which the state has full ownership has begun. Additional real
estate acquisition is also under way.

The first phase will be the middle portion of the roughly 17-mile
bypass, which has a price tag of $405 million.

"That is moving along quite well,'' Fuller said.

Sherman Cahal
American Byways |http://www.americanbyways.com
Bridges & Tunnels |http://www.bridgestunnels.com
Abandoned |http://www.abandonedonline.net
Urbanup |http://www.urbanup.net

.

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