Butler County Engineer Dean
C. Foster announces the opening of Layhigh Road Bridge #08.055
in Ross Township. The Bridge represents one of the first projects
to be completed under the State of Ohio's new LPA (Local Public
Agency) program. LPA is the result of an important policy change
that now allows counties to manage federally funded road projects
from start to finish.
The nearly $1 million Layhigh
project, the nearby Reily Millville Road upgrade, and the recent
Cincinnati Dayton Road bridge project in Union Township are the
first three federally funded projects in Ohio to be completely
managed at the local level since the new policy took effect.
Until last year, counties could do plan preparation, environmental
studies, and even buy right-of-way for federally funded projects,
but then were required to hand the project over to the Ohio Department
of Transportation (ODOT) to let the contract and manage construction.
When ODOT changed the decades-old policy last year, it gave counties
complete local control over the construction phase of these projects.
"The State's initiative
to transfer control and responsibility for construction to the
local level is a mutually beneficial process," according
to Foster. "It saves everyone time and money. Locally, for
Butler County, the number one benefit is cost reduction. Typically,
counties can manage the construction contract for far less than
the State because the decision-making is held at the local level.
We can resolve problems more quickly, and that translates into
savings - both time and money. We applaud the LPA program and
hope to see it continue."
With time at a premium, everyone
can be thankful that this new program will help minimize road
construction detours and traffic delays. Nearly 20,000 vehicles
per day cross the new bridge on Cincinnati Dayton Road that was
just completed under the LPA program. Through the efforts of
the BCEO's Construction Management Department working with the
LPA process, the bridge was finished nearly a month ahead of
schedule.
LPA allows every federally
funded project to be managed locally except those involving interstate
highway funds. "Construction time lines are shortened and
road construction funds can be stretched farther. The benefits
to Butler County will be substantial and significant," Foster
added.
Recent and Proposed
LPA Projects
Layhigh Road Bridge #08.055,
Ross Township
Project: Bridge replacement
Completed: October 1998
Contract
amount: $915,472
Contractor: SK Construction
Reily Millville Road from
U.S. 27 to Bunker Hill Woods Road, Hanover & Reily Townships
Project: Roadway reconstruction and resurfacing,
adjustments to vertical alignment, widen existing lanes, add
berms, addition of raised pavement markers
Completed: September 1998
Contract
amount: $1,294,362
Contractor: John
R. Jurgensen Co.
Cincinnati Dayton Road
Bridge #00.340, Union Township
Project: Bridge
replacement
Completed: August 1998
Contract
amount: $633,744
Contractor:
SK Construction
LeSourdsville West Chester
Road Bridge #07.329, Liberty Township
Project: Bridge replacement
Estimated
start date: Late
1998, early 1999
Estimated
cost: $620,000
Indian Creek Road Bridge
# 00.498, Reily Township
Project: Bridge replacement
Estimated
start date:
Late 1998, early 1999
Estimated
cost: $780,000
Garver Elliot Road at
CSX Railroad, Reily Township
Project: Crossing upgrade, realignment, lights
and gates, elimination of nearby unsafe crossings at Law and
Pierson Roads
Estimated
start date: Late
1998, early 1999
Estimated
cost: $325,000
Cox Road from Tylersville
Road to U.S. 42, Union Township
Project: Construction of bikeway
Estimated
start date: Late
1998, early 1999
Estimated
cost: $480,000
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