PEDRO — The Wayne National Forest in southeastern Ohio recently awarded a construction contract for almost $250,000 to Scioto County-based Diaz Enterprises, Inc., Minford, to build a temporary bridge for County Road 29 in Lawrence County.

Once the temporary structure is built, school buses and emergency traffic, along with the general public will be able to travel County Road 29 between State Hwy 93 and Lake Vesuvius. The Wayne National Forest anticipates contractors to complete the work before the end of November, as long as they do not experience any unforeseen delays.

The construction project is being funded by the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program. Soon after the existing bridge was damaged by heavy rains, the Wayne National Forest applied for Federal assistance, so that Lawrence County would not have to bear the cost of paying for a temporary bridge or the replacement of the damaged bridge.

While the temporary bridge is being constructed, the Wayne National Forest and Lawrence County will be working together on preliminary engineering and environmental studies to complete the new permanent bridge.