MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon City Council member Mike Hillier questioned the number of projects the city has in the works and where the money would come to pay for them all when the administration presented legislation to move forward on two pedestrian bridge projects.
“I would like to see it broken down for each bridge with dollar figure and the [budget] year and where it’s going to come from within capital improvements,” Hillier said. “I’d like to see it in writing before I vote.”
The two projects in question are the conversion of a railroad bridge near the end of South Norton Street that spans the Kokosing River and the bowstring truss bridge sitting at Foundation Park.
Ohio Department of Transportation grants will pay for 80 percent of the project with the city required to pay the remaining balance.
The city’s share of the pedestrian bridge over the Kokosing will cost $386,000.
“This is the most difficult of the three bridges,” said Safety-Service Director Dave Glass. “It spans the river and there are environmental issues so it will cost the most money.”
The bowstring truss bridge project is projected to cost $440,000. The city’s portion and engineering fees will hit approximately $140,000.
Two other bridges, the one just east of the viaduct donated to the city by Mark Ramser, and a nearby bridge over Dry Creek, owned by the county, are also part of the Kokosing River Parkway Bike Trail but were not included in legislation Monday night.
