Residents will notice a difference in the appearance of Ironton’s riverfront after the city has completed a $212,000 project to widen the floodgate opening leading to the boat ramp.

Thursday, August 10, 2000

Residents will notice a difference in the appearance of Ironton’s riverfront after the city has completed a $212,000 project to widen the floodgate opening leading to the boat ramp.

The city was awarded a $162,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources last year to transform the current Center Street Landing entrance from a one lane to two lanes, Ironton Mayor Bob Cleary said.

"When the city originally built the flood gates, there wasn’t as much traffic passing through the gates," Cleary said. "Since that time, there has been an increased amount of recreation and a restaurant added on the riverfront. Because of that increased traffic and the railroad tracks, that area of Center Street has became a real safety hazard."

He said the Empowerment Zone funding has provided the city with an additional $50,000 needed to complete the widening of the entrance and make it as safe as possible for motorists.

The Ironton-Huntington, W.Va. Empowerment Zone federal grant has provided a 10-year, $100 million grant to fund improvements in the two cities in an effort to attract businesses.

"Empowerment Zone funding provided the city the additional funds we needed to better the job in making that area safer," Cleary said. "We will be doing approximately $212,000 of work to the floodgate area. Because of the Empowerment Zone funding and the ODNR state grant, this entire project will be done at no cost to the citizens of Ironton."

He said that while the project will halt traffic passing through the traditional opening for an unspecified amount of time, residents will still have the opportunity to enjoy the riverfront.

"We are expecting to start the project within the next month, or after the majority of the boating season is over," he said. "We do have right-of-way access to the river from the lower end of the boating area. People will not see the Center Street landing blocked off entirely."

The city’s goal is to widen the floodgate and to move the incline out of the boating area further away from the railroad tracks, he added.

"Once the project is completed, accessibility to the riverfront will be so much easier," Cleary said. "The entrance will be in the same general location. Those going to the riverfront will be able to see oncoming traffic from the city side. We are looking at other options for recreational improvements also. We hope this is just the beginning of a lot more to come for the citizens."