Commissioners authorize advertising for Old Stage Road bridge bids after residents split

Greene County commissioners voted May 1 to authorize the county engineer to advertise for bids to rehabilitate the Old Stage Road bridge, advancing the project to the next procurement step.

The vote followed public comment from residents and local officials divided over whether the long-closed crossing should be repaired, removed or left as-is. Supporters including Spring Valley Township Trustee Paul Martin urged moving forward; opponents said the bridge is not missed and questioned long-term cost and use of state funds.

Residents laid out three broad options, saying the county could leave the bridge closed, replace it using Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) funds, or tear it down and install a cul-de-sac on one side. “There are really 3 options for this bridge,” resident Kelly Troop told the commissioners during public comment. Troop said the bridge has been closed about 10 years, that local drivers have adapted, and asked whether ODOT grant funds could pay for a single cul-de-sac if the structure were removed. A county staff member offered to provide written answers after the meeting.

Devin Maloney, another nearby resident, questioned the county engineer’s outreach and cost estimates and said he had lost faith in the county engineer’s handling of the project. “I respectfully have lost trust in our county engineer,” Maloney said, calling for the board to deny authorization to seek bids if it truly opposes the replacement.

Spring Valley Township Trustee Paul Martin said the trustees and emergency responders support replacement and asked the commissioners to permit advertisement so the county could secure accurate cost estimates. “I ask that you please support the authorization to advertise for the Old Stage Bridge,” Martin told the board.

Commissioner Mays moved to authorize the county engineer to advertise for the Old Stage Road bridge rehabilitation project; the motion was seconded and approved by the three commissioners present. The advertisement step authorizes soliciting bids; the board noted a later meeting would be required to award a contract and enter into construction agreements.

Speakers raised differing cost figures during the discussion: Troop cited an estimated replacement cost of about $1,800,000 and calculated hypothetical long-term replacement costs over 50 years; Maloney said a county engineer staff member had told a trustee that a single-side turnaround could cost $700,000. Those figures were presented by public commenters and were not confirmed by the county during the meeting.

The county clarified this vote did not award a construction contract. The next steps are for the county engineer to advertise the project, receive bids, and return to the commissioners for contract award and execution. The board did not vote on whether to accept ODOT funding for a cul-de-sac versus full replacement during the meeting.

The Old Stage Road bridge is in Spring Valley Township; residents, trustees and emergency services officials will be among the stakeholders consulted as the project proceeds to bidding and potential contract award.