City asked to pay $4.2M toward bridge project

FINDLAY — Legislation that would appropriate $4.2 million towards replacing the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge in Findlay's downtown was introduced to city council during its regular meeting Tuesday. Replacement of the bridge is a flood mitigation project. The current bridge, which is over 100 years old, straddles the Blanchard River just west of Cory Street and Findlay's downtown. Supports for the bridge are a "pinch point" in the river and act as a dam during floods. The 150-foot span of the bridge will be replaced by a new bridge, with a span of 300 feet, removing the obstruction from the river. The Hancock County Board of Commissioners and the city of Findlay are working to finalize an agreement with the Maumee Watershed Conservancy District, Defiance, to move forward with the replacement of the bridge. A mix of grant funding and money from both the city and council would be used to pay for the $16.7 million project. The project could be put out to bid this winter. The legislation would also authorize the mayor to sign the agreement. A grant for $7.1 million was awarded to the conservancy district in 2021 by the Federal Rail Administration for the railroad bridge. It was expected to cover 80% of the cost, then estimated at $8.8 million. The city of Findlay has received conditional approval for a $24 million Flood Hazard Mitigation Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The announcement was made on Friday. Offered under FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance program, the money would be used to help fund the construction of the $75 million Eagle Creek flood basin and provide $5 million for continued benching of the Blanchard River. The projects must still undergo a National Environmental Protection Act compliance review and the federal government will require confirmation that the projects have a positive cost-benefit ratio before final approval is granted. The grant would provide $19 million for the Eagle Creek flood basin's construction and an additional $5 million for benching projects, including those between Cory Street and the CSX tracks and around the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge. Once approved, the money will likely be available within six to nine months. On Friday, local officials said construction on the projects won't begin until the grant is formally approved. The estimated cost of flood mitigation projects in Hancock County has increased by about $25 million since 2019. The price tag is now nearly $98 million. The estimated cost of the Eagle Creek flood basin has increased by $15 million since 2019 and is now expected to cost $75 million to construct. The cost of the Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge project has nearly doubled since 2019, increasing from $8.9 million to $16.7 million. The second phase of river benching has increased from $4 million to $6 million. Construction on all three projects was set to begin this year.