Ohio as a whole will receive $774 Million dollars, with the largest expenditure by far used to support the innerbelt bridge project through downtown Cleveland.
$200 million federal dollars, added to existing state funds, will considerably shorten the time needed to build a new five-lane west bound bridge over the Cuyahoga River.
That's because half the state's transportation stimulus funds must be obligated and assigned to specific projects by the end of June, the rest by March first of 2010.
A celebratory ODOT Deputy District 12 Director Bonnie Teeuwen says look for construction to begin shortly.
BONNIE TEEUWEN : "We can start constructing pieces and parts of it so that will help get the shovel in the ground sooner rather than your traditional 'design the whole thing and then build it after that'."
Mayor Frank Jackson said in a statement he's pleased that the inner belt has been given top priority, and that another major initiative - the so-called "Opportunity Corridor", linking the end of interstate 490 to Cleveland's University Circle - has also gotten a 20 million dollar shot in the arm. That, plus $6 million in hand, will allow immediate research and studies about how best to create the roadway.
ODOT District 4, which includes Summit County, also received grants for multiple projects, including a $7 million redecking of the Y-Bridge, and $8 million to improve access around the new Bridgestone-Firestone complex, both in downtown Akron.
Mayor Don Plusquellic wished Akron had gotten more, but says he understands.
MAYOR DON PLUSQUELLIC: "Our infrastructure needs are so great - we have not invested in the last ten years. But am I happy under the circumstances that we're under? I'm ecstatic!"
As he unveiled details of Ohio's stimulus projects, Governor Ted Strickland put the number of jobs that would be created or retained in Ohio at more than 79 thousand over the next 15 months.
Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish of Beachwood called the effects, long-lasting.
ARMOND BUDISH: "These projects will not only create jobs in the short term, they will have lasting, positive impacts on our economy for years to come."
Overall, transportation 149 projects in 87 of Ohio's 88 counties were awarded federal funding.