The mayor said Athens has secured roughly $119 million in federal and state grants since 2016 that have paid for a range of infrastructure projects, including bridge work and upgrades to the wastewater and water treatment plants. “Iwould identified us being able to the city being able to, acquire via grants, federal and state funding to the tune of a $119,000,000 for infrastructure projects,” he said.

He provided schedules for two active projects: the Stimson Avenue bridge is expected to be completed in late spring, and the 56682 roundabout is expected to finish by early November. The mayor warned that the roundabout involves nine construction phases and that motorists should expect traffic delays and multiple signal changes at the 682/56 intersection while work proceeds.

Addressing specific construction on the south side of the Richland Avenue bridge over the Hocking River, the mayor clarified the visible work is for a new sewer lift station that will pump sewage from the Richland Avenue/Dairy Lane corridor to the wastewater treatment plant; he said that work is included in the grants the city has received.

Next steps: officials will continue phased construction and provide traffic guidance; residents with concerns about construction impacts were urged to consult the city's project updates and to report any issues via the CitySource app or the city's notification channels.