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Youngstown Dedicates New Division Street Bridge
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- A new bridge from Division Street that leads into the heart of this city's industrial sector, near Salt Springs Road, will improve access to a growing business park and help companies there as they expand, officials say.The span, which cost $2.1 million, extends over four sets of railroad tracks and feeds into a former steel mill site on the west bank of the Mahoning River.Dignitaries representing private business, Youngstown and the state ofOhio snipped a ribbon this morning to mark the opening of the DivisionStreet Bridge.Mayor George McKelvey said the project reflects a community determined to build "bridges to the future" and support new companies that build on land once home to a thriving steel industry. "Their businesses will be strengthened and enhanced with this project," he said.The mayor gave special recognition to Carmen Conglose, deputy director for public works, and his staff for their work on this and other infrastructure projects under way in the city. "He's helped to build the future of Youngstown," the mayor said. "One of the biggest challenges we face is to make sure there's enough ribbon" to accommodate more ceremonies as these projects are completed.In 1997, USX Corp., parent of U.S. Steel Corp., gave nearly 150 acres to the city, land that once housed the Ohio Works, said Finance Director David Bozanich. Redeveloping this property soon became a priority among city development officials, the site successfully receiving state funds for cleanup and work on its infrastructure. U.S. Steel closed the plant in the early 1980s and demolished the buildings as well as a service bridge leading to the site.Since 2000, more than $70 million of new private investment has been pumped into the park, Bozanich said. Four companies -- Graybar International, Industrial Waste Control, M-7 Technologies and SSD Corp. operate there. A fifth company, Genmak Steel, is constructing a new facility there, he said. Another company, Insulated Glass Specialties, has ceased operations in the Ohio Works, he added, noting the building is available for lease.Once the whole park is filled, it should employ about 500. "I'd say it's about 70% filled right now," Bozanich noted."It really helps," said Jeannette Garvey, representing M-7 Technologies. "Most of our customers are from Cleveland and Pittsburgh" and now can reach the site from Salt Springs Road, which connects with Meridian Road and Interstate 80.The bridge also gives access to other businesses that have operated near the Ohio Works site for years, noted Jeffrey Chagnot, director of development. Tube producer V&M Star, formerly North Star Steel, operates in the former Youngstown Sheet & Tube works and employs more than 400. Companies such as City Concrete LLC and Midwest Steel also stand to benefit, he said.Much of the project was funded through the Ohio Department of Development, which contributed nearly $1 million. The agency has also spent an additional $1 million for various other infrastructure improvements in and around the Ohio Works Park, reported Julie Michael Smith, the governor's regional representative. "We're also looking at other investments here at the park," she noted. The city contributed $100,000 toward the bridge and the remaining funds were raised through bond sales.Work on the project began nine months ago, Bozanich added. A.P. O'Horo Co.,Liberty, was selected as the contractor on the project, while Thomas Fok and Associates, Austintown, was retained as construction engineers. MS Consultants, Youngstown, acted as design engineers for the project."