Routine inspections on tap for Ironton-Russell Bridge

IRONTON — As part of its regular maintenance program, the Ironton-Russell Bridge will undergo a series of inspections early next month, requiring periodic lane restrictions.

As part of the state’s annual bridge inspection program, contractors for the Ohio Department of Transportation will conduct routine field inspections of the Ironton-Russell Bridge in Lawrence County during the first two weeks of November.

Beginning Monday, , and continuing through Nov. 15, crews from Richland Engineering will perform physical inspections that include testing and examining pins and gusset plates, working from approximately 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day as weather permits.

During the first week of inspection, the bridge will be open to traffic and maintained in one lane by flaggers when crews are at work. Richland crews will continue inspections during the week of Nov. 11; however, the bridge will remain open to two-way traffic with no restrictions.

Although crews will attempt to minimize traffic impacts, lane restrictions may cause some periods of delay, and motorists are reminded to exercise additional caution when traveling in the work zone.

Along with other regularly scheduled inspections, these annual tests and inspections are part of the department’s maintenance and research program for all bridges maintained by ODOT.

For information on additional lane and road closures caused by construction, accidents, flooding or other related traffic events throughout the state, visit ODOT on the web at www.Ohgo.com.

 

BCPL to host workshops for novel writing month

ASHLAND, Ky. — November is National Novel Writing Month, a time to take up the challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days.

To help all those fledgling novelists out there, Boyd County Public Library is hosting a series of workshops with the help of Amanda Grant, a NaNoWriMo veteran. The sessions will all be at the Kyova branch, from 6 to 8 p.m., on Fridays Nov. 1 and 15, and Saturday, Nov. 30.

The first two sessions will each include time set aside for writing. People should try to come to all three sessions- to get an account set up on the NaNoWriMo website, receive encouragement from other writers, and to take part in a final “wrap party”, Grant said.

Freelance writer Chris Baty started the project in 1999 with 21 participants in the San Francisco area. The first observance took place in July, but was moved to November to “take advantage of the miserable weather.” By 2010, there were more than 200,000 people writing – a total of more than 2.8 billion words.

The NaNoWriMo website will keep track of participants’ word count. Anyone who reaches the 50,000 word mark is a “winner” in the competition and will receive goodie bags with discounts on various writing software, as well as free e-books and other items.

 

Participants should bring their own laptop, notepad, pencils, and other writing tools. The library will provide coffee and refreshments. For more information, call Grant at (606) 939-1002.