In late February, The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) temporarily closed the Ohio 852 overpass in West Portsmouth after a truck scraped the bottom, causing what officials are calling “significant damage.” ODOT has submitted plans to fix the damage and are roughly estimating the cost to be $80,000.

“Within the last week or so we submitted the plans from our district office to central office in Columbus for final review,” said Kathleen Fuller, Ohio Department Of Transportation spokeswoman.

She said once the plans are approved ODOT will put a project out to bid that would repair damaged concrete and fix some other items that were damaged.

“This is not your standard project, where you come in an fix some I-beams. This repair work is a little more involved and a little more of a specialized project,” Fuller said.

She said, as an added measure, the contractor is going to wrap the concrete beams under the overpass with fiber glass.

“That is something new that we’ve not done that before on any of our projects,” Fuller said. “The fiber glass should add to the life span of the bridge as well.”

Once the plans are approved, ODOT can sell the project and have a better idea when work can begin. Fuller is estimating work will begin in the spring.

“We are classifying this project as a type-B emergency project, which means non-standard bid-leading,” Fuller said.

She said the estimate on how much the project may cost is loose at this point, but at this time ODOT is estimating as much as $80,000.

“Given the scope of the work the contract is likely to go to a small group of contractors who are qualified and able to bid. They will know the market for material, labor and how long it would take to fix it,” Fuller said.

She said once construction begins traffic restrictions will likely be implemented on Ohio 852 and US 52. The work is likely to take three to four weeks to complete, once started.

Jack C. Gigillum, of West Portsmouth, was driving a truck for Boone Coleman Construction on Feb. 21, hauling an oversize backhoe, when his vehicle struck the bottom of the Ohio 852 overpass. Ohio State Highway Patrol Troopers charged Gigillum with a permit violation and leaving the scene of an accident. As a result ODOT also voided Boone Coleman Construction’s special hauling permit.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.