ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A number of construction projects are set to begin this spring as the Ohio Department of Transportation invests millions of dollars in local infrastructure improvements.

Lauren Borrell, public information officer for ODOT District 11, said ODOT will invest $118 million in infrastructure projects in the district that includes Belmont, Harrison, Jefferson, Carroll, Columbiana, Holmes and Tuscarawas counties.

“That’s a total of 116 projects including 33 slide repairs, 28 pavement projects, 28 bridge and culvert projects, and 24 safety improvement projects. That total project number also includes district-wide maintenance projects like guardrail projects,” she said.

Of that funding, $27.2 million is going into Belmont County for 31 construction projects that include 19 slide repairs, three pavement projects, five bridge and culvert projects and four safety projects. One of those projects is a $7.4 million bridge rehabilitation project along Ohio 7 in Shadyside.

“They will be replacing the bridge deck and the existing steel beams,” she said.

Although some of the work is now underway, it is not impeding traffic yet, Borrell said. The majority of the project is set to begin May 3, when there will be single-lane closures in each direction on Ohio 7 until its completion in late October.

Another project in the county is a $3.1 million resurfacing project near Morristown. Borrell said crews will be resurfacing 0.7 miles of Interstate 70 from exit 208 to the rest stop. The project is set to begin in May with a completion date set for Oct. 15.

Additionally, a $408,000 safety improvement project is set to begin in early May at the intersection of Ohio 147 and Ohio 800 in Barnesville. There is a lot of truck traffic that goes through the intersection that has trouble making the turn, she said.

“They will be taking out a house and widening that intersection to increase the turning radius,” she said.

The project is underway with a completion date set for Oct. 31.

ODOT will also be investing $4.9 million for 11 total projects in Harrison County.

“That includes two slide repairs, six pavement projects, and three safety projects,” Borrell said.

Borrell said one project includes the resurfacing of the four-lane section of U.S. 22 in Cadiz — a $670,000 project. She said that effort should begin this summer and be completed in September.

Another resurfacing project, set to begin May 5, is on Ohio 9 in Cadiz. The $978,000 project includes the resurfacing of 5 miles of Ohio 9 and Ohio 250.

“It’s from Industrial Park Road to Toot Road in Cadiz,” she added.

Borrell said another notable project is the $909,000 Conotton Creek Trail paving project, which includes the resurfacing of more than 11 miles of the bike trail that stretches from Jewett to Bowerston. That project gets underway this summer and will be completed in September.

And in Jefferson County, ODOT is investing $21 million for 21 projects including slide repairs, paving and safety improvement projects.

Although traffic volume decreased by 15.5 percent last year, an increase in the state motor fuel tax that went into effect in summer 2019 has allowed ODOT to keep projects on schedule, Borrell said.

“Thanks to the motor fuel tax, we’re in good shape. Our revenue has been impacted, but we’ve been able to keep all of our maintenance and safety projects on schedule. And of course, that would not have been possible without Gov. DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly for increasing that motor fuel tax,” she said.

In total, ODOT is investing $1.92 billion into nearly 1,000 infrastructure projects throughout the state.

As construction increases throughout the state, ODOT reminds motorists to drive carefully through the construction zones.