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The Greene County Engineer’s Office plans to spend almost $9 million on county roads and bridges this year, marking a 10 percent increase compared to last year.
More than half of the county road and bridge budget, an estimated $6 million, will be spent on highway maintenance and construction, according to county documents. This includes resurfacing 44 miles of road across the county including two miles on Beaver Valley Road, four miles on Dayton-Yellow Springs Road and 13 miles on Old Route 35.
“We may have to modify the list after the winter is over,” Greene County Engineer Bob Geyer said to county commissioners.
Highway maintenance and construction spending on county roads this year is a 21 percent increase compared to $5.1 million budgeted last year, according to county documents.
The county road and bridge budget also includes $452,250 for bridges this year. This amount is $478,041 less than the amount budgeted last year.
In November, Greene County voters approved 0.25-mill renewal bridge levy. The levy annually generates about $899,000, according to the county auditor. Homeowners annually pay about $7.34 per $100,000 of appraised value.
“We’re being prudent with the taxpayers’ dollar and trying to get the most we can for everybody,” Geyer said.
Bridge maintenance this year will include three large structures; two on Roxanna New Burlington Road in Spring Valley and one on Lower Bellbrook Road in Sugarcreek Twp.
“This is the year that we’re basically going to be doing mostly maintenance to try extend the life of many of the structures instead of doing any beam replacements on any of the structures this year,” Geyer said. “We’re going to be patching and painting the edges of these concrete beams and try to extend their life.”
Projects in the bridge program this year also includes restoration of the Ballard Road covered bridge, near Old U.S. Route 35 and North Ballard Road, which will cost an estimated $700,000, according to Geyer. Most of the money will come from federal funds, about $560,000, and the remaining amount, $140,000, will be funded through county local bridge money.
“All of those painting, repairs and the other things that you’re doing can make those last, rather than just letting them go,” said Greene County Administrator Brandon Huddleson. “… I take comfort in the fact that our bridges are in such good shape.”
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