ODOT, city of Cincinnati hope federal dollars can help kickstart major projects
The Ohio Department of Transportation and the city of Cincinnati are hoping federal funding will be the financial boost needed to help kickstart two major construction projects, the Western Hills Viaduct and the Brent Spence Bridge.
ODOT recently submitted a funding application to the Federal Highway Administration, under the recent infrastructure bill passed by congress.
"We're really excited for this opportunity," ODOT District 8 planning engineer Tom Arnold said. "It's a new program that wasn't available in previous years. So, that's why we feel this is definitely a ripe opportunity for the project to move forward."
ODOT is requesting nearly $1.6 billion from the program.
Ohio and Kentucky would provide matching funds to fix the Brent Spence, and construct a two-level companion bridge alongside it.
The Western Hills Viaduct is also moving forward.
The city recently submitted a grant to the federal government for $200 million dollars to help cover the cost of the viaduct.
Meanwhile, the city is moving forward with design and working with Duke Energy on utility relocation.
"That is a very large undertaking in itself," principal structural engineer, Bill Shefcik said. "It's a $12.5 million relocation cost for the transition line alone, so we've been working closely with Duke."
The city projects the new viaduct will be open by the end of 2028, with a completed project by 2030.
During Monday's meeting, the conversation turned to the pain at the pump and to the recent conversation about the potential to suspend Ohio's gas tax.
Something Ohio Majority Leader Bill Seitz called a "temporary gimmick."
"It would imperil very important streams of funding that are needed for projects such as the Brent Spence Bridge, the Western Hills Viaduct, the other projects you heard about at today's meeting," Seitz said.
Right now, the federal gas tax is 18 cents, and Ohio's is 38.5 cents.
For the Brent Spence Bridge project, if all goes well with the federal grant money, ODOT expects to start construction spring of 2024.