As work continues on the project to build a new span across the Ohio River, the Ohio Department of Transportation District 9 Thursday gave Ironton City Council members a progress update.

Construction of the new Ironton-Russell Bridge is nearly on schedule, said Dave Bame, project manager and construction engineer.

Bame, Kathleen Fuller, ODOT spokesperson, and Vaughn Wilson, District 9 deputy director, presented a PowerPoint presentation to council outlining progress made on the $81.2 million project since construction began in March of last year.

As of last month, about 20 percent of the work has been completed.

So far, Brayman Construction, of Saxonburg, Pa., has completed shafts for the tower on the Kentucky side of the bridge, caps for piers 6 and 7, completed pier 1 on the Kentucky side, all Ohio approach substructure elements, drilling at Ohio-side tower, shafts at all piers, below water seal pour at Kentucky tower and pier 2 and footing at pier 5 has been cast.

Also completed is foundation work for the Kentucky approach and pier 1, bores under Norfolk-Southern railroad and Ohio levee, drainage work at Ohio abutment, pier 6 and 8 footings and pier 6 and 7 stem walls.

Installation of storm sewer and water lines in Ironton near the Ohio approach is partially complete.

Wilson said work will continue this winter and the Kentucky tower footing should be cast.

In the spring, structural steel will be set at the Kentucky approach as well as the Ohio tower footing. This summer, the deck concrete at the Kentucky approach should be completed, as well as the Kentucky back span, the first Ohio tower section and the structural steel at the Ohio approach.

The new two-lane, cable-stayed bridge is slated to be open to traffic by the fall of 2015.

Total length will be 1,640 feet and 32 feet wide with a navigational clearance of 805 feet.

Included in the bridge design are 120 steel cables and eight piers.

In other business council:

• Suspended the rules and had three readings adopting an ordinance entering into a contract with E.L. Robinson Engineering Company for general engineering services regarding projects for the city, in an amount not to exceed $25,000.

• Suspended the rules and had three readings adopting an ordinance entering into a contact with the Ironton Metropolitan Housing Authority for police protection, in an amount not to exceed $12,500.

• Suspended the rules and had three readings adopting an ordinance establishing a police equipment replacement fund for the Ironton Police Department, which will be funded through revenue from towing and impounding vehicles.

• Suspended the rules and had three readings adopting an ordinance to increase towing and storage fees for the city impound lot.