This historic bowstring arch bridge which serves as a gateway to the Columbiana County Fairgrounds off of Saltwell Road will be strengthened with steal beams underneath as part of a rehab project in early fall. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)

Columbiana County commissioners selected The Ohio Bridge Corporation, doing business as U.S. Bridge, to rehabilitate the historic bowstring arch bridge located at the county fairgrounds off of Saltwell Road.

The Cambridge firm submitted the low bid of $389,991 for the rehab project, with commissioners awarding the contract Wednesday upon the recommendation of county Engineer Bert Dawson.

Other bidders included Marucci & Gaffney Excavating Co. of Youngstown for $480,168 and Suburban Maintenance & Construction Inc. of North Royalton for $460,808.

When contacted, Dawson said the department was happy with the bids and the project will likely get started in early fall. The project is partially funded with money from the American Rescue Plan Act through the county commissioners.

Dawson previously said that the bridge is safe for pedestrian traffic and this project is just a precautionary measure to strengthen the bridge which dates back to 1872. Plans call for steel beams to be installed underneath the deck for further support.

The bridge originally spanned Little Beaver Creek on South Market Street and was known as the Lisbon Bridge, built by the Massillon Bridge Company.

According to a previous news story about the bridge, it was taken out of service in 1966 and was stored on the county garage property on South Market Street, then the bridge was restored and moved to the county fairgrounds, with the dedication in 2017. Since then, fairgoers have continued to traverse the span at the north end of the fairgrounds off of Saltwell Road, keeping the bridge in use more than 153 years since its original construction.

In a news story about the dedication in 2017, Dawson was quoted as saying, “The people of Columbiana County paid for this bridge in 1872 and I think it is wonderful that the people of Columbiana County are still getting enjoyment out of it.”

In business related to the county Department of Job and Family Services recommended by Director Rachel Ketterman, commissioners approved the following subgrants funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, all with contract periods from Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026: Catholic Charities Regional Agency, domestic violence shelter, $75,000 spending ceiling; The Counseling Center, Project SAFE which includes court-ordered parenting classes, $40,000 spending ceiling; Columbiana County General Health District, car seat distribution program, $24,413 spending ceiling, and Cribs for Kids, $48,843 spending ceiling; Columbiana County Juvenile Court, diversion programming, $110,469 spending ceiling; Ozer Ministries, domestic/family violence supportive services, $32,479 spending ceiling; and The Way Station, GLOW service for at risk teen girls, $127,181 spending ceiling, and Pathways to Independence service, $88,191 spending ceiling.

The commissioners also approved two contracts with Ozer Ministries funded by TANF from Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026 for Two Parent Family Support Services with a spending ceiling of $9,240 and Domestic Violence Outreach Services with a spending ceiling of $8,000. An amendment was approved for the current contract that expires Sept. 30 with Catholic Charities for the domestic violence shelter for a $30,000 increase in the spending ceiling.

The commissioners also approved a contract funded by commissioners for snow and ice removal at the Government Services Building from Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2027 with a spending ceiling of $20,000. Ketterman said the two-year contract locks in the better rate. The Government Services Building houses DJFS, the county Board of Elections, the county Veterans Commission and the Ohio State Extension office.

Commissioners appointed Steve Ullom, coordinator of the Family & Children First Council, to a two-year term on the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund Northeast Regional Prevention Council. The term will be in effect from Sept. 3, 2025 to Sept. 3, 2027.

The next meeting of county commissioners will be 9 a.m. Sept. 10 in the downtown courthouse.

mgreier@mojonews.com