BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio— The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced on its website earlier this week that it is ready to begin preliminary work on the Blaine Hill Bridge.
Beginning the week of March 10, ODOT crews will conduct preliminary work on the Blaine Bridge to meet necessary environmental requirements before starting construction. This work will involve access both from under the bridge and from the bridge deck.
The specific location where the work will take place has been thoroughly inspected to ensure it is safe for equipment and personnel. Areas of the bridge with deteriorating conditions will be accessed from underneath using a lift.
Additionally, in preparation for future construction, a contractor will conduct tree-cutting work in the project area throughout March.
ODOT will rebuild the historic U.S. Route 40 bridge in Belmont County, calling it the Blaine Hill Arches of Memory Rehabilitation Project. ODOT moved its timeline for construction up. Originally slated to go to construction in 2027, bridge construction is now set to begin this May. Under the accelerated project schedule the bridge will be reopened to traffic in the summer of 2026.
The project includes enhancements to the structural integrity by replacing the superstructure and maintaining the bridge’s historical character, all to facilitate the bridge’s reopening. The design plans for this project are in development.
The project will replace the bridge’s beams, deck, and railing and patch its existing concrete piers.
Michael Baker International is the firm designing the bridge work.
