Ohio state is planning to provide $10m to Hamilton County and Cincinnati next year to start work on the Western Hills Viaduct.
Now i84 years old and called ‘structurally deficient’ by the federal government, the viaduct continues to carry about 70,000 vehicles daily to two large job centers, Uptown and Downtown, where more than 120,000 people are employed. According to an article on Cincinnati.com, the replacement cost of the viaduct is approximately $253.6m going by an an estimate made in June 2016. County and city officials are hoping to replace the viaduct by 2025, but funding remains uncertain.
Cincinnati mayor John Cranley said the money from the state was a “great start” but adds the amount is a fraction of what is needed. Ohio's transportation review board will vote on funding on January 26, 2017 but it is thought the $10m will be approved without question. The initial amount will be used to start work on the design of the replacement viaduct, and to buy property.
City and county officials are pushing for the two governments to work together on a plan to raise funds to replace the viaduct. The Cincinnati USA Region Chamber is also behind the effort to build a new bridge, and is urging that money be awarded quickly so work can begin.
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