CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Ross County has secured a $750,000 federal grant to begin planning improvements along some of its most heavily traveled roadways, county officials announced.
The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program and will be managed by the Ross County Planning & Development Department. The money will support preliminary design work for the Pleasant Valley Corridor Project, covering Veteran’s Parkway, Pleasant Valley Road, Moundsville Road, and Egypt Pike.
The planning phase will involve studying traffic patterns, identifying safety hazards, and developing potential upgrade options. County officials emphasized that no construction is imminent — the grant covers design work only.
“This award allows us to take the first step toward improving some of our busiest roadways,” officials said. “By completing this planning work now, we are better positioned to pursue future funding and make meaningful improvements that benefit our residents and local economy.”
The award was highly competitive. Nearly 800 applications were submitted nationwide requesting more than $789 million in combined funding. Ross County was one of 49 communities selected, sharing in a total of $54.2 million announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
County officials say they will spend the coming weeks finalizing an agreement with federal officials before reimbursable work can begin. The public will be updated as the project moves forward.