Commissioners expected to give $5,000 toward bridge restoration

The black discoloration would be removed.

WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners are expected to act as soon as today on providing $5,000 in county money to the organization Warren GROWS Inc. to help with the $25,000 restoration of the limestone West Market Street bridge.

James Herriman, a member of the organization, told commissioners he had commitments of $10,000 from the philanthropic and business group Trumbull 100, $4,000 from the Warren Lions Club, $1,000 from the Make-A-Difference-Day Fund and $5,000 from the City of Warren to help with the project.

Herriman said Nick’s Painting Co. of Warren will water sandblast the 77-year-old bridge over the Mahoning River just east of the Trumbull County Courthouse for $19,000. Main Lite Electric Co. Inc. of Warren will install lighting on the outside of the bridge for $3,650, leaving $2,350 for cost overruns.

The county engineer’s office would also make repairs to some of the mortar after the cleaning is complete.

Randy Smith, deputy county engineer, said maintenance and inspection of such bridges are his department’s responsibility, but “aesthetic” improvements of this type are not.

Herriman said removing the black discoloration on the stones would make the bridge “another jewel” in the crown of improvements that have been made in the area around the bridge, such as the nearby amphitheater. The six additional lighting fixtures would show off the bridge’s new look.

The city of Warren already replaced wiring in the bridge streetlights for a couple of thousand dollars, Herriman said, and the city has agreed to provide the water that will be used for the sandblasting.

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