By WAYNE ALLEN

PDT Staff Writer

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced Wednesday a contract has been awarded to BUDS Inc. of Nashport, Ohio, for $63,000 to fix the Ohio 852 overpass in West Portsmouth that was damaged in February.

Jack C. Gigillum of West Portsmouth was driving a truck for Boone Coleman Construction on Feb. 21, hauling an oversize backhoe, when troopers said his vehicle struck the bottom of the Ohio 852 overpass.

ODOT spokeswoman Kathleen Fuller said during construction crews “will close the southbound lane of S.R. 852 where it crosses over U.S. Route 52 to repair the support beams. There will be some lane restrictions on U.S. 52 westbound during construction. In addition to repairing the concrete and treating it with epoxy injections, the contractors will apply a fiberglass polymer wrap to the beams.”

During construction, traffic will be detoured via the ramp to U.S. 52 west to Ohio 239 and then back to Ohio 852 south via U.S. 52 east.

She said work will begin April 11 and is expected to take three weeks, depending on weather conditions.

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