ODOT to pay for most of new Kettering span
Construction is expected to begin in late 2020 or early 2021.
The state will pay $2 million, or about 95 percent of the estimated cost, to replace the Ridgeway Road Bridge in 2020.
A Kettering bridge project has been approved for grant money that will cover 95 percent of the construction cost of the replacement, city officials said.
The Ohio Department of Transportation will pay up to $2 million in construction costs to replace the Ridgeway Road Bridge for all modes of traffic, including vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.
The total estimated cost to replace the bridge, including engineering design and right-ofway costs, is $2.6 million.
The city began pursuing grant funding for the reconstruction of the bridge for all modes of traffic in late 2017. More than 70 percent of respondents to a survey about the bridge indicated they wanted the bridge replaced for all modes of traffic.
Other survey options included replacing the bridge for only cyclists and pedestrians and removing the bridge without replacing it.
Many respondents also indicated they would feel less safe turning onto Dorothy Lane, the road the bridge crosses over, from nearby streets if the bridge was removed.
“We would like to thank everyone who provided feedback on project alternatives during the public survey,” said Kettering Assistant City Manager and City Engineer Steven Bergstresser. “ODOT officials who reviewed the funding application were very impressed by the high level of public support for this project. Obtaining grant funding to replace the bridge would have been much more difficult without the community support this project received.”
A total of $10.3 million was awarded by ODOT to 14 projects across the state in this year’s round of applications for the Municipal Bridge Program, according to the release.
Construction on the new bridge will begin in late 2020 or early 2021, according to the release, when the ODOT funding will become available.
Kettering City Council members will consider authorizing the city to hire a design consultant to prepare construction plans for the bridge, which will be similar to the current one, at their meeting Tuesday. The city plans to continue seeking more grant funding in addition to the ODOT grant.