Lisbon Mayor Peter Wilson has announced that the Ohio Department of Transportation has increased funding for the Pritchard Avenue bridge project to $1.3 million.

The state agency added $150,000 to the original grant of $1.15 million. This change accounts for rising construction costs since the village first applied for the funds in 2021. At that time, officials estimated the work would cost $691,000.

Wilson said the extra money means the village should not have to spend its own funds on the construction.

Construction is expected to begin in late spring.

The work will take about six months. During this time, Pritchard Avenue will be closed at the bridge. Village officials plan to coordinate with the local school district and neighbors to reduce travel delays.

The bridge crosses a branch of Little Beaver Creek. It was built in 1938 and has not received major repairs since the 1970s. The structure remained in use even after homes washed into it during a major flood in 2004.

A recent report shows that the new bridge will sit on the same path as the current one. Engineers recommend using concrete foundations resting on the bedrock located about seven to 11 feet underground.

The new design will feature a single-span concrete box beam and a concrete deck. Soil tests near the creek found layers of clay, sand, and siltstone. Because the bridge is near a waterway, engineers included plans to protect the foundations from soil erosion caused by flowing water.