(11-1-24) The Palmer Road bridge replacement was completed recently and was opened to the public on October 31, 2024.  

Mercer County Engineer, Jim Wiechart cuts the ribbon to celebrate this bridge replacement.

The Palmer Road bridge replacement is significant for many reasons.  The project was completed by Jutte Excavating of Ft. Recovery in Mercer County.  Federal/State Exchange bridge funds were secured from a competitive program to fund the work at approximately 95% federal / 5% local.  The bridge contract amount is $1,817,984.66.

The 142’ span bridge is the longest bridge span of this beam type (CB48 x 48 composite box beams) with a 32’ wide deck in the state of Ohio.

This bridge replacement is greatly significant for Mercer County, as it replaces the last fracture critical, non-redundant truss structure in our county on public roads.  With a fracture critical structure type, there are only 2 main structure supports and limited load redundancy.

Since 1999, at the time Wiechart began work with the engineer’s office, the Mercer County Engineer’s Office has replaced 221 bridges and completed 49 bridge rehabilitations.