By FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

Motorists who regularly travel U.S. 52 between Ohio 139 and Ohio 140 might want to find an alternate route over the next few months, or just be prepared to drive slower through long lines of traffic.

A $2.54 million bridge repair project is scheduled to start Thursday on U.S. 52 in New Boston and Portsmouth.

“There is a series of bridges where 139 comes into New Boston, all the way out to what is the eastern corporation of Portsmouth, which is 140,” Kathleen Fuller, public information officer for District 9 of the Ohio Department of Transportation said. “There are several different bridges through there that are going to get rehabilitated and repaired. Then there is a separate resurfacing project that we are going to come in and do after that.”

According to ODOT District 9 Deputy Director James Brushart, crews from the Velotta Company will be rehabilitating a series of eight structures situated on U.S. 52 in New Boston and Portsmouth.

The one lane restriction will begin at the 23.34 mile marker all the way to 26.24, which is Ohio 140.

“The first one would be right there at 139, right after you turn off Old 52 from 139,” Fuller said.

“Basically you’re looking at that stretch that is kind of at Wal-Mart all the way out to 140. All of the bridges through there are getting done.”

Fuller said it is the bridge at the 25 mile marker just beyond Wal-Mart where the open lane will be even more narrowed down to only 11 feet 6 inches.

“That’s going to be the tightest part of it,” Fuller said. “We have the concrete barriers between the east and west bound lanes, so it is going to be pretty tight getting through the construction.”

Fuller said there would be a reduced speed observed in the construction area. For example, where it is normally 55 miles per hour it will be 45 miles per hour in both directions during construction.

Fuller said the scheduled completion date is Nov. 20, 2009. She said the resurfacing project would begin next year.

A bridge replacement and roadway improvement project is also under way on County Road 257 (Hayport Road) at the 2.18 mile marker, just east of U.S. 52 at Wheelersburg, and the route is closed. Motorists are being detoured via U.S. 52. The scheduled completion date is Sept. 9, 2010.

During the week of July 13, Ohio 104 will be closed at the 10.33 mile parker, between McDermott-Pond Creek Road and Crowe Hollow Road south of Ohio 348, for a culvert replacement project. Weather permitting, the closure will go into effect at 8 a.m. Monday, July 13, and continue until approximately 4 p.m. Friday, July 17. Throughout the week, motorists will be detoured via Ohio 348, U.S. 23 and U.S. 52.

Frank Lewis may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.