As part of the Ohio Department of Transportation's project to build a new bridge across the Ohio River at Ironton, the department is hosting an aesthetic design meeting Monday.

The meeting will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Bowman Auditorium at Ohio University Southern. The purpose of the meeting is to present various design elements, such as landscape and concrete options, that may be incorporated into the overall design of the Ironton-Russell Bridge project.

Joined by representatives from both Ironton and Russell, Ky., the aesthetic design team from ODOT's central office will discuss the creative

concepts that will be developed over the course of the next several months and adapted into the bridge design plan.

The new Ironton-Russell Bridge will connect the two communities via Second and Jefferson streets.

in downtown Ironton and near the intersection of Kentucky Route 244 (Bellefonte Street) and U.S. Route 23, south of Russell. Currently, the estimated construction cost for the new bridge is $70 million.

Although an exact timetable has yet to be established, construction will begin following the completion of design and right of way acquisition, and it is anticipated that the project will be sold in late 2005 or early 2006.