COLUMBIANA STORMS Damage set for quick repair

State Route 45 is still set for completion later this month.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Columbiana County and state officials say they hope to complete repairs to storm-damaged bridges and culverts by the end of the year.
Floods in late August and September either washed the structures away or heavily damaged them.
The biggest job is replacing a bridge and a culvert under state Route 45 between Salem and Lisbon.
Completion date
Nick Susich, a manager with Ohio Department of Transportation's District 11, said Friday that repairs should be completed and the major north-south road reopened by late October.
"The cost was estimated at $350,000, but it will be closer to $450,000," Susich said.
Troy Graft, an engineer with the Columbiana County Engineer's office, said six closed bridges and culverts are being repaired.
Work on the projects range from nearing completion to working on design stages. The projects are:
UA culvert replacement on Depot Road north of Burtview in Butler Township. That project should be completed soon, Graft said.
UWinona Road between Depot and King roads in Butler Township. Pilings are being put in place, and the bridge beams are supposed to be put in place Oct. 20.
UMiller Road between Lisbon and Grafton roads on the border of Salem Center and Salem Township. Pilings are to be put in place starting Tuesday, and the bridge is to be put in place starting Oct. 18
UTeegarden Road between Yates and McCracken roads in Salem Township. A steel culvert is to be put in place Oct. 28.
UKing Road between state Route 9 and Whinnery Road in Butler Township. The county is seeking material for the project.
UDarner Road in Elkrun Township south of state Route 154. Designs are still in the preliminary stages, but a contractor is ready to make the bridge beams when the designs are completed.
Pushing to finish
Graft said that it normally takes six months from the design stage to construction. But all the projects are being pushed forward quickly.
"We want to get them all open to the public," Graft said.
The work includes site preparation as well as the addition of guardrails and paving after the structures are in place, he said.
The ground temperature must be 40 degrees or higher to lay asphalt. Should the weather get cold fast, the engineer's office can put down other material at the approach to bridges and lay asphalt in the spring, Graft said.
Figures are being compiled on the county's cost.
Some of the construction is eligible for funds from the Federal Highway Administration.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has declared the county and local governments eligible for disaster aid. Local officials are to meet Wednesday at the county engineer's office to begin compiling numbers.
wilkinson@vindy.com