Bridge replacement approved

FINDLAY — Hancock County commissioners voted Tuesday to contract for the $1.2 million replacement of a bridge on County Road 180 just north of Ohio 37. Clyde-based Great Lakes Demolition is scheduled to replace the bridge in 2026. Great Lakes submitted the lowest bid among a field of eight firms. Federal funds will cover 95% of the cost, and County Engineer funds will pay the rest, County Engineer Douglas Cade said. The bridge will not be replaced until next year because other traffic-disrupting projects are being undertaken nearby on state and U.S. routes, Cade said. Those other projects are: • Two bridges on Ohio 568 southeast of Findlay will be rehabilitated, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) reported. One of them is over the Blanchard River between Township Road 234 and County Road 236. The other bridge is over Glauner Ditch between County Road 236 and Township Road 237. • The stretch of Ohio 37 between County Road 180 and Ohio 15 is being widened, ODOT reported. Other improvements being made on the stretch include: addition of edge and center line rumble strips; relocation of utility poles and replacement of guardrail. • Concrete apron on the U.S. 68 roundabout south of Findlay is being replaced, said Chris Hughes, deputy director for ODOT, District 1. The roundabout's construction was completed last fall. However, subsequent testing found that the concrete apron, which the rear tires of trucks tend to ride over, fell short of ODOT strength standards, Hughes said. The concrete apron is being replaced at the contractor's expense, he said.