Concrete Pour Completed for West Main Street Bridge: Project Slightly Delayed but Under Budget

Joe Lyons • August 22, 2024

Ashland, OH – The West Main Street Bridge project in Ashland is progressing with a significant milestone reached today as the concrete was poured for the bridge deck. Ashland County Engineer Ed Meixner provided an update on the status, acknowledging a slight delay in the project timeline but affirming that it remains on budget.

“We’re a little bit off schedule now, but we’re still on budget, so that’s the good thing,” Meixner said during his update. Initially, the project was slated for completion by August 30th. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the completion date has been pushed back to around September 19th or 20th.

The delay, according to Meixner, is primarily due to the curing process of the concrete. “Once the concrete is poured, it usually takes about 28 days to fully cure. If testing shows the concrete reaches the necessary strength sooner, we may be able to open the bridge earlier than expected,” he explained.

The project, contracted to Adina Corporation, was initially bid at $998,000 but is now expected to come in under budget at approximately $950,000. This reduction in cost is attributed to the non-performance of certain tasks, which were more expensive than the additional work added during the project.

Funding for the bridge comes from multiple sources: a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission, $300,000 from the Ashland County Commissioners’ ARPA funds, with the remaining costs covered by gas and motor vehicle tax funds.

Meixner also praised the cooperation of the local residents, noting minimal complaints despite the inconvenience caused by the road closure. “The people along West Main Street have been a real blessing to work with,” he said, expressing gratitude for their patience throughout the construction period.

The project, which involves pouring about 95 cubic yards of concrete, represents a crucial step in restoring normal traffic flow in the area. Once completed, the bridge is expected to alleviate some of the traffic issues caused by the construction.

While some of the work has just taken longer to complete than was planned, the overall progress remains positive, with the community eagerly awaiting the reopening of West Main Street Bridge by mid-September.