Buckeye Hills Regional Council is stepping up to assist the Village of Coolville with a major road repair. Through its role as a Regional Transportation Planning Organization, Buckeye Hills has provided $500,000 to replace a collapsed culvert on Ohio State Route 144.
In July, heavy rain and debris caused the culvert, an underground tunnel that helps with drainage, to collapse. This forced the road to close, causing problems for travelers who use it daily.
Recognizing the urgency, Buckeye Hills RTPO used funds from a program called the Surface Transportation Block Grant to help the village fix quickly address the problem. This money will go toward making sure the road is safe and can handle future weather events better.
The Ohio Department of Transportation is actively working to repair the road, installing a new culvert and repaving the road above it.
“There is currently one lane open with temporary signals and we anticipate that the road will be fully open by the end of this week,” said Ashley Rittenhouse, Public Information Officer for ODOT District 10.
“Closing this road has been a big inconvenience for Coolville residents and businesses,” said Buckeye Hills Planning Director Melissa Zoller. “Everyone is eager to have the road open again to help with daily travel and local business activities. The repair will solve the current problem and prepare the road to better handle future challenges.”
Residents can stay updated on the progress and road openings through ODOT, Buckeye Hills RTPO announcements, and upcoming village meetings.
Buckeye Hills Regional Council is a designated Ohio Regional Transportation Planning Organization for Southeast Ohio, in partnership with ODOT. RTPOs were established to allow greater local input in transportation decisions within the region and to help make the most of limited state and federal budgets at the regional and local level. A Transportation Committee, composed of county engineers, community officials, stakeholder groups, and private citizens meets regularly to assist with transportation planning activities.
“Working with ODOT in our capacity as a Regional Transportation Planning Organization, our agencies are committed to ensuring safe and durable roads for Southeast Ohio,” Zoller added. “This project shows how local organizations can quickly respond and fix emergency issues to keep everyone safe and the community moving.”