U.S. DOT Grant to Fund Replacement of Eight Mile Road Bridge near Cincinnati

Federal Highway Administration
1 November 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 01, 2004
Contact: Doug Hecox, 202-366-0660
FHWA 20-04m

A new $400,000 Federal Highway Administration grant will help to replace the bridge over Eight Mile Creek near Cincinnati, OH, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta.

"The new Eight Mile Road Bridge will last years longer than normal thanks to the use of a new corrosive resistant material," said Secretary Mineta. "Because we are using the latest technologies, the bridge will be able to stand up to weather and time, providing a long-lasting bridge and better value for taxpayers."

The Eight Mile Road Bridge project, estimated to cost $500,000, will remove aging concrete spans and replace them with a new, more modern bridge made with a state-of-the-art fiber-reinforced superstructure,. Built more than 70 years ago, the current bridge carries 4,000 vehicles per day.

The replacement bridge will take four months to complete and will provide researchers an opportunity to study the effect of traffic on the fiber-reinforced superstructure over time. Building bridges that last longer and require less maintenance is part of Ohio's goal of building bridges that will remain functional for a century or more.

"With this bridge, Ohio is on the cutting edge of new building techniques and technologies that are crucial to the future of America's transportation infrastructure," said Federal Highway Administrator Mary E. Peters.

Since 1991, the FHWA has provided funds to states seeking to improve the safety, longevity or utility of key bridges with innovative materials or designs.