NELSONVILLE — Federal stimulus funds will allow the Ohio Department of Transportation to expedite construction on the final two phases of the three-phased Nelsonville Bypass.

ODOT will have access to $150 million in stimulus funds to complete the final phase of the “Capital Corridor” connecting Columbus and Charleston, W.Va. That corridor also includes the Ravenswood Connector and Athens-Darwin project on U.S. 33 in Meigs County, as well as the bypass of Lancaster, all of which have been completed.

The first phase of this new four-lane roadway carrying U.S. 33 between the cities of Nelsonville and Logan began last year. Under previous planning, these final two phases were not scheduled to begin until after 2012.

“The increase in funds will accelerate the project’s completion and will save the state of Ohio money in long term,” said State Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Athens. “ODOT officials estimate savings could reach as much as $40 million over the life of the project.”

The Nelsonville project is one of 149 projects in Ohio funded through the stimulus appropriation. Those projects are designed to create over 21,000 jobs, Governor Ted Strickland said.

“We have identified projects that will put thousands of Ohioans to work quickly,” Strickland said. “But to make the best use of these resources, we must also leverage them to create tomorrow’s opportunities.”

“In addition to distributing the federal transportation stimulus resources broadly to provide Ohioans in every region with an opportunity to participate in the economic recovery, we are also targeting funds to develop unique regional economic assets.”

“Doing so will strengthen the state’s infrastructure system while also bolstering each region’s economic vitality in immeasurable ways.”

Federal transportation stimulus funds totaling $774 million will be spent in nearly every Ohio county. In Meigs County, ODOT will spend $815,000 for improvements to Ohio 7 under the federal funding package.

When combined with Recovery Act funds allocated under Ohio’s Rural Transit Program, stimulus investments will be made in 87 of Ohio’s 88 counties.

ODOT will invest $603.5 million into 113 roadway projects. Of those 113 projects, $242.9 million is dedicated to 30 bridge projects, and $360.6 million to 83 pavement projects.

Under the Recovery Act, 50 percent of the state’s transportation stimulus funds must be obligated and assigned to specific projects by June 29. The remaining amount must be obligated and assigned to specific projects by March 1, 2010.

State Senator Jimmy Stewart, R-Albany, said the Nelsonville project has been a priority in the legislature.

“Throughout the transportation budget process, I have been vocal about the importance of the Nelsonville Bypass to the future of Southeast Ohio’s economy and have worked with the Strickland Administration, officials at the Ohio Department of Transportation and my fellow legislators to ensure completion of the project is a priority,” Stewart said in a prepared statement.

“I applaud the Governor and ODOT for their efforts to secure funding for this critical project and ensure construction of the bypass is a transportation priority for the state in the coming months.

“Funding to fix the Nelsonville bypass means immediate job creation and long-term economic growth for the region,” said U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. “For too long, projects like the Nelsonville bypass have been delayed and ignored, stunting economic growth in Appalachia.”