From left, District Deputy Director at Ohio Department of Transportation Rick Oster, Marietta Community Development Specialist Amanda Clark, Historic Harmar Bridge Company Board Member Bret Allphin, Mayor Josh Schlicher, Historic Harmar Bridge Company President Derek Buell, Local Programs Manager at ODOT District 10 Eric Reed, and Community Development Director Geoff Schenkel celebrate next steps for the Harmar Bridge's development on April 10. (Photo provided)

Representatives from the Historic Harmar Bridge Company presented a $50,000 check to the City of Marietta earlier this month, marking a key step in securing funding for the rehabilitation of the Harmar Bridge as a pedestrian crossing, according to a company release.

The payment, delivered April 10 outside City Hall by board chair Derek Buell and board director Bret Allphin, fulfills the local match requirement tied to a $1 million grant awarded through the Ohio Department of Transportation Transportation Alternatives Program. Mayor Josh Schlicher accepted the check on behalf of the city, accompanied by Community Development Director Geoff Schenkel and Community Development Specialist Amanda Clark.

The grant, announced in June 2025, includes a 95% state contribution of $950,000, with the remaining 5% covered by the Historic Harmar Bridge Company. The total $1 million project will focus on rehabilitation of the bridge’s swing span and construction of its east approach.

Officials said the payment represents the organization meeting its required share of the project, allowing the next phases of work tied to the grant to move forward. The effort reflects a broader approach centered on partnerships, where nonprofit groups, local government and state agencies each contribute defined roles to advance infrastructure projects of this scale.

“The Historic Harmar Bridge refurbishment project embodies the very spirit of ODOT’s Transportation Alternatives Program,” said Rich Oster in the release, noting the program’s focus on improving walking and biking access.

Buell said the funding highlights the impact of community support, noting that each dollar raised locally leveraged a significantly larger return through state funding.

Local officials indicated the project is part of a broader, long-term strategy focused on connectivity and downtown development, shaped by years of planning and public input. That strategy prioritizes improving pedestrian access and linking key areas, including corridors that connect neighborhoods, educational institutions and business districts.

They also emphasized that sustained progress has depended on building strong organizational capacity and partnerships over time, with community involvement and consistent advocacy helping position the project to secure state support. The ability of local organizations to contribute financially and enter into formal agreements has been a key factor in advancing the effort.

A joint use agreement between the city, Washington County and the Historic Harmar Bridge Company continues to guide that collaboration, formalizing responsibilities and supporting long-term work on the bridge.

A structural evaluation of the bridge is currently underway to guide design and cost estimates. The study is being conducted by American Structurepoint, along with consulting firms Consor Engineers and Modjeski & Masters, and is funded through federal planning grant dollars.

Officials said the evaluation will also strengthen a separate federal grant request for a larger corridor project that would further integrate the bridge into a regional pedestrian network.

“The City of Marietta is excited and invested in seeing the project through to completion,” Schlicher said in the release, citing partnerships, grant funding and community support as key drivers of progress.

According to the release, the milestone reflects years of groundwork, including community advocacy, organizational development and planning efforts that helped position the project to receive state and federal support.

The Harmar Bridge project remains one of several ongoing initiatives aimed at restoring a pedestrian connection between Marietta and Harmar Village, with additional phases expected as funding and design work progress.