By JARED ORZOLEK

orzolek@crescent-news.com

NAPOLEON -- Construction began this week on a deteriorating bridge in Napoleon thanks to funds from the U.S. government's economic stimulus package.

Vernon Nagel Construction, Napoleon, began replacement of the bridge over Van Hyning Creek on Oakwood Avenue in Napoleon on Monday.

The $526,000 project is funded by grant monies, including a $400,000 allocation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the stimulus plan.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), working with the Henry County engineer's office, is coordinating the project.

"Anytime you can have grants to help pay for projects it's helpful," said Tim Schumm of the county engineer's office. "It frees up other money to do other road work that is needed in the county."

The bridge will be closed until the end of October as crews replace the crossing, according to Schumm. Oakwood Avenue is closed between Fair Street and Lakeview Drive, and traffic is detoured on to Independence Drive, Industrial Drive and Ohio 424.

"It's a temporary inconvenience. Hopefully, in the next couple of months we get the road opened up," Schumm said.

The new crossing will have pedestrian sidewalks on both sides and will not have a load limit, according to Schumm, who explained that that bridge is maintained by the engineer's office because it is on a city street that extends to a county road.

The engineer's office learned in 2008 that the bridge needed to be replaced after a depression began forming on the pavement and an inspection revealed that the bridge's support system was deteriorating. Since then, officials have been working to obtain grant funds to replace the bridge.

ODOT is overseeing $1.1 billion in transportation stimulus funds directed to Ohio through the ARRA.