MOUNT VERNON — Due to an unusual set of circumstances, utilizing a new program labeled “Just Build,” Knox County moved 14 separate structures approved for later years into fiscal year 2010.

This was done to absorb surplus Federal Local Bridge Replacement Funds within the program administered by the County Engineers Association of Ohio. The construction dollar amount represented by these bridges totals $4,571,930. The successful contractors will be allowed the flexibility of completing the work over the 2010-11 construction seasons.

In addition, the final six bridges identified in an OPWC grant approved in 2008 will be bid in late 2009/early 2010. The estimated value of replacement costs for this grant totals $1,550,000. With completion of these bridges, if approved to an acceptable federal build standard, an additional 80 percent of eligible construction costs, approximately $780,000, will be entered into the county’s credit bridge account which can be used as local match for future federal bridge replacement candidates.

Lastly, using a Federal Enhancement Grant, the steel truss bridge on Big Run Road over the Kokosing River bypassed several years ago will be rehabilitated at a cost of $820,000. This bridge is identified as historic on the National Register, and was built by the Mount Vernon Bridge Co. in 1915. It will be disassembled, hot-blasted and then galvanized, and finally re-installed.

The Just Build program will include bridges on Old Mansfield, Bowman, Deal, Hopewell, Banning, Lower Green Valley, Pipesville, Range Line, North Liberty, Gilcrhist, Bear Run, Hall and Dunham roads, and Possum Street.

The OPWC grant program will build bridges on McLarnan, Jelloway, Dunham, Chapel, Vance and Montgomery roads.