Clermont County Commissioners welcome home United States Army Specialist Kevin Long Dec. 10. From left are Commissioner Bob Proud, Veterans' Service Commissioners Joe Johnson and Ken Cook, Clermont County Sheriff A.J. “Tim” Rodenberg, Veterans' Service Commission Executive Director Howard Daugherty, Long, Commissioner Ed Humphrey, Jeff Uckotter, with Congressman Brad Wenstrup's Office, and Commissioner David Uible.

By Kelly Doran
Sun staff

Construction on the bridge on Spring Street in Bethel will begin in January after about a year of planning.

In order to fund the project, Village Administrator Travis Dotson had to apply for funding through a Community Development Block Grant.

The project received $104,100 with a match of $15,643.38, Dotson said.

The CDBG is a program that provides federal funding for projects selected by the county to address urgent needs in local communities.

Once the project was funded, the county put the project out to bid and chose Smith Construction because it offered the lowest and best bid, Dotson said.

The county was prepared to begin construction in the fall, but first had to find an alternative route for cars, Dotson said. To solve that problem, a temporary bridge will be constructed that will remain open for cars until the permanent bridge is completed.

Weather permitting, construction will begin sometime after January 1 and should last six to eight weeks, Dotson said.