Blanchard St. bridge eyed for updates

FINDLAY — The city of Findlay may be able to get financial help to rehabilitate the Blanchard Street bridge over the Blanchard River. In a letter to council dated May 28, city Engineer Jeremy Kalb said the city was notified of the grant opportunity by the Ohio Department of Transportation. The grant program will provide funding to municipalities for the rehabilitation of existing bridges. Kalb said, if awarded, the grant will be used to perform deck and structural repairs on the Blanchard Street bridge. He said construction funds are expected to be made available between the 2025 and 2027 construction seasons. Findlay City Council rushed through legislation at its June 4 regular meeting to authorize city administrators to apply for the grant. According to ODOT, the Municipal Bridge Program provides federal funds to municipalities, metroparks and regional Transit Authorities for vehicular bridge replacement, bridge rehabilitation or bridge demolition projects. Bridges must be open to vehicular traffic. A funding limit of $2.5 million per project has been established. In the letter, Kalb said recent inspections by ODOT through its Municipal Bridge Inspection Program will better position the city to receive the grant. In September 2022, council approved the city's participation in the inspection Program, a free service offered by ODOT. Kalb said ODOT will fund project design and construction through two different models. Project design will be funded with 80% federal funds and a 20% local match. Project construction will be financed with 95% federal funds and a 5% local match.