Cats Run Road bridge replacement in the works
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WOODSFIELD -- Monroe County officials are hoping to reopen a road that has been closed for more than three years with the replacement of a couple bridges on Cats Run Road in Switzerland Township.
Last week at the Monroe County Board of Commissioners' meeting, Monroe County Engineer Amy Zwick opened six bids for two different bridge replacements on Cats Run Road. The first bridge has been closed since 2019 due to its deteriorating condition, while the other has a 4-ton weight limit posted.
The first bridge, known as Switzerland Township Road 199-2.57, received three bids -- $230,409.30 from Ohio-West Virginia Excavating, $245,968 from Shelly and Sands, and $313,133 from RC Construction Co. and Son Inc.
Two of the three bids came in more than 10% above the engineer's estimate of $219,726.67, meaning neither can be accepted.
The second bridge, known as Township Road 199-2.38, also received three bids — $235,300.14 from Ohio-West Virginia Excavating, $252,132.80 from Shelly and Sands, and $320,477 from RC Construction Co. and Son, Inc. The last bid from RC Construction Co. and Son came in more than 10% above the engineer's estimate of $229,275.54.
The bids were tabled for review. Zwick said she will make a recommendation during the commissioners' next meeting today.
"We're just happy that they came in within our estimates, and we're going to be able to move forward with the projects and get them fixed finally," she said.
Zwick said the bridge was originally closed in February 2019 after severe storms flooded the area leading to additional damage to the bridge. She estimated that around 10 or more residents are affected by the bridge closure in the immediate area.
"It's a road that goes all the way through, it's not a dead end. It actually connects to, I believe it's County Road 56 in Belmont County. Once it comes to Monroe County, it turns into a country road," she said, adding that the bridges lie in the middle of the section of roadway so depending on which side of the bridges a resident resides, an alternative route must be taken.
"They may have to go through Belmont County to get back out or they may have to go toward State Route 56 and come back around. It really just depends on where they live in relation to the bridges."
She said they were denied funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency; however, they were eventually able to obtain funding through the Ohio Public Works Commission after a few attempts and secured a $400,000 grant.
Zwick said they received the news in December and have been working ever since on the survey work and project design, prior to the project going out for bid.
She said they are hoping to get the project underway by March or April.
"I've had conversations with the contractor, the low bidder, and said, 'At this point, you can pretty well start as soon as you're ready if the weather cooperates,'" she said.
"I'm pretty much just waiting on them to give me their schedule."
Zwick said the work must be completed by June 1 due to the grant requirements.