The Ohio Department of Transportation recently issued $63 million to projects aimed at improving roadway safety across 14 counties, along with more than $12 million to help fix or replace aging several local bridges.
[Above photo by the Ohio DOT]
That $63 million, issued from Ohio DOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, will support 19 safety projects, including the construction of a dozen roundabouts and the installation of several cable barriers.
“We’re always looking at how we can make our transportation system safer,” explained Governor Mike DeWine (R) in a statement. “These projects will make improvements that will help reduce the number of crashes, making it safer for those who travel in these areas each day.”
[Editor’s note: Ohio recently calculated that it experienced 15,400 fewer traffic crashes overall in 2024 following passage of a strengthened distracted driving law in October 2023.]
Pamela Boratyn – Ohio DOT’s new director – noted that, in May, Ohio DOT issued $83 million for 28 roadway safety projects in 22 counties.
“Every project we do has an element of safety built in, but these projects were specifically selected and funded because we know they will save lives and reduce the chance of a serious crash,” she added.
Concurrently, the agency $12.4 million to eight local bridge repair or replacement projects in seven communities, through its Municipal Bridge Program; an annual grant for local municipalities that can cover up to 95 percent of eligible project costs.
“Bridges are a vital part of our transportation infrastructure, but the cost of maintenance and repair is often more than local jurisdictions can afford,” said Gov. DeWine in a separate statement. “This program provides the funding assistance our local communities need to keep their bridges safe and in good condition.”
There are nearly 1,500 bridges across Ohio that are owned by a municipality and meet the federal definition of a bridge, noted Ohio DOT’s Boratyn, meaning Ohio has the third largest bridge inventory in the nation – trailing only Texas and Illinois.
“Bridges owned by local communities make up the majority of the bridges in our state [and] the people of Ohio do not care who owns and maintains these bridges; they just want to know that they are safe to cross,” she stressed. “This program helps ensure they are.”
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