CHESAPEAKE — In about two months the contractor should be chosen who will repave Big Branch Road or County Road 31 outside of Chesapeake.

This week Lawrence County Engineer Patrick Leighty expects to bid out the project.

“We should enter into a contract by the middle of September,” Leighty said.

Recently, the county received a funding boost when it was awarded $68,377 in state funds through the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Those funds were available to county transportation improvement districts and Big Branch was one of two project Lawrence County’s TID submitted. The other was the Chesapeake Bypass, which did not receive ODOT approval.

“Any TID that is going to apply, they have to registered with us and go through a review process,” said Kathleen Fuller, public information officer for ODOT District 9.

“They are looking for how much more funds the project may need. Projects must have additional sources of funding, outside of the TID. The total amount of funding requested is limited to 25 percent of project or up to $250,000 maximum.”

Funds can go for design, right of way or construction and must be reimbursed.

The repaving covers 4.47 miles of the county road and is expected to cost $683,767. Of that the County Surface Transportation Program, part of the County Engineers Association of Ohio, provides $517,280.

On top of that Leighty’s office provides $68,110 from the Motor Vehicle Gas Tax; the county commissioners, $25,000; and the Union Township Trustees, $5,000.

“All of our roads were hit hard this winter with the freeze and thaw and it broke up all the roads,” Leighty said.

The repaving should be complete by the end of the year.

“They will leave portions open unless they can’t,” Leighty said.