By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Two overpasses in Bowling Green are set undergo construction.
Bowling Green City Council declared an emergency Monday evening and passed an ordinance consenting to the rehabilitation of two Interstate 75 overpasses, at East Poe Road and East Gypsy Lane Road.
The emergency was declared to meet the bid deadlines for the Ohio Department of Transportation, which is paying for the project. The city of Bowling Green will not be paying for any of the work.
ODOT plans to rehabilitate both bridges, and needed the city’s consent since portions of the project are located in city limits.
The plans call for the bridge decks to be replaced, the abutments to be rehabilitated, and the approach slabs to be replaced.
The timing for the overpass work is unknown.
Also at the meeting, Mayor Mike Aspacher talked about the high winds Sunday which brought down trees and took out power to about 125 electric customers.
“It was a bit more blustery than normal in Bowling Green yesterday,” he said.
City crews worked hard to get power back to homes and businesses, the mayor said.
“Our city employees did a terrific job responding,” Aspacher said. “Our employees stayed on the job till almost all of our customers had power,” with the exceptions being locations where crews did not have access to private property.
Council member John Zanfardino noted the work done near Clough and South Summit streets, close to his home.
And Council President Mark Hollenbaugh said that some of his coworkers who don’t live in Bowling Green were still without power Monday evening.
“Pass our praise along to everyone who did such a good job,” Hollenbaugh said.
In other business, council passed a resolution urging Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the state legislature to extend the deadline for operating public meetings electronically. The current legislation is set to expire on Dec. 1.
Aspacher apologized for sounding like a “broken record,” but asked those listening to continue following precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19.
“I recognize that many of us – myself included – are fatigued,” with the pandemic restrictions.
But the mayor urged the community to remain vigilant.
“We cannot deny the fact that the state of Ohio has set records,” he said. “We cannot bury our heads in the sand.”
Aspacher asked that people follow guidance of the Wood County Health Department.
“Pay attention to what we’re hearing from the health experts,” he said.
