BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – Lauren Borell, Public Information Officer for ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) District 11 provided a fact sheet about the Blaine Hill Bridge project to River News Network on Tuesday.
The FAQ offers answers from ODOT to Ohio Valley residents’ questions about what is happening with the bridge project.
Members of the Blaine Hill Bridge Committee, a group formed to expedite the opening of the bridge, told River News Network recently that the bridge’s closure is negatively impacting businesses in the Blaine and Bridgeport areas. Some businesses report losing 40 to 50 percent of their revenue following the bridge closure.
Others expressed concern over reduced first responder times to emergencies and possible catastrophe if there is a major incident on Interstate 70. U.S. Route 40 across the bridge has functioned as an alternate route in emergencies, they say.
Borell says the project will begin in October 2027 with an anticipated completion date of spring 2027. She adds that the project has been moved up by 5 months.
The project is scheduled to [begin] in October 2025, with a completion date in the spring of 2027. To date, the project has been accelerated five months ahead of schedule. ODOT is working closely with the designer to expedite any stage of the planning process while adhering to the Project Development Plan. ODOT will continue searching for ways to further accelerate the project.
Lauren Borell, Public Information Officer for ODOT District 11
You can read the ODOT Fact Sheet/FAQ below:
