{"id":22996,"date":"2012-04-11T06:29:02","date_gmt":"2012-04-11T11:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/?p=22996"},"modified":"2012-04-12T05:35:13","modified_gmt":"2012-04-12T10:35:13","slug":"2012-odot-construction-projects-include-3-in-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2012\/04\/11\/2012-odot-construction-projects-include-3-in-county\/","title":{"rendered":"2012 ODOT construction projects listed"},"content":{"rendered":"

DAVE MOSIER\/<\/strong>independent editor<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Wannemacher Total Logistics owner Greg Wannemacher (right) talks about his company to ODOT Director Jerry Wray during a tour of the Wannemacher facility on Hanthorn Road in Lima. (Dave Mosier\/Van Wert independent)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LIMA \u2013 The Ohio Department of Transportation\u2019s District 1 launched this year\u2019s construction season during an event held Tuesday at Wannemacher Total Logistics\u2019 Hanthorn Road facility in Lima (click here<\/a> for a map showing Van Wert County projects).<\/p>\n

The event was held at the trucking\/warehouse facility to highlight the importance of trucking to Ohio, and how crucial it is to invest in the state\u2019s highway system.<\/p>\n

ODOT Director Jerry Wray, who was given a tour with other ODOT officials by company owner Greg Wannemacher, stressed the importance of trucking to Ohio.<\/p>\n

\u201cBusinesses such as Wannemacher Total Logistics are keeping Ohio\u2019s economy moving, with more than $438 billion worth of goods shipped by truck annually,\u201d Wray said, noting that Ohio ranks third nationally in that category. \u201cA reliable transportation system is not only the lifeblood of their business, but also the catalyst for future expansion and job creation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ODOT director also talked about the state\u2019s funding shortfall in connection with major upcoming construction projects and what his agency is dealing with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way we fund transportation is at serious risk of running out of gas,\u201d Wray noted, adding that ODOT has a $1.6 billion highway budget shortfall, which “could delay large-scale, economically-vital transportation projects.”<\/p>\n

The ODOT director blamed the shortfall on the gasoline tax, higher construction costs and a federal stalemate over a long-term national transportation funding program.<\/p>\n

Wray said his agency is working on innovative ways to raise funds to help ease the financial crunch. Plans include commercialization of non-interstate rest areas and sponsorship and naming rights for certain infrastructure projects, which would save $100 million to $200 million annually. Wray said billions more could be saved by leveraging state-owned transportation assets, such as the Ohio Turnpike, and exploring public-private partnerships.<\/p>\n

Wannemacher talked about his business, which he began in 1991 and which now includes four warehouse locations in Lima and a warehouse facility in Ottawa — a total of 1 million square feet of warehouse space — and why he feels locating along I-75 was a good decision.<\/p>\n

In 2011, the company purchased Golden Heritage Foods LLC in Van Wert, producers of Busy Bee Honey as an expansion into liquid fill, and processes approximately 90-100 trucks a day through its warehouses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe chose our presence here along 75 because we felt it would be very instrumental to our growth,\u201d Wannemacher said. \u201cThe ease of getting on and off the major interstate has been very important to use, especially during inclement weather.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kirk Slusher, ODOT District 1 deputy director, also outlined a total of 32 construction projects this season in the eight-county district totaling $39 million. Chief among those is the beginning of a multi-year reconstruction project for I-75 in Allen County.<\/p>\n

In Van Wert County, a total of $1.8 million will be spent on three projects \u2013 two of those ODOT sponsored and the other local government project. Projects include:<\/p>\n