If you’ve been wondering why some roads get fixed and others don’t, this latest funding announcement helps explain why.
Scioto County has been awarded more than $3.3 million in grant funding to repair several damaged roadways — but officials say the money comes with strings attached.
According to county leaders, the funding was secured through the Ohio Emergency Management Agency after heavy rains in April 2025 caused major damage across the county, including roadway slips and closures.
County Engineer Darren LeBrun, who is responsible for road repairs and securing funding, worked to obtain the grant. Commissioners had to approve the county’s acceptance of the funds before the project could move forward.
The damage from that storm left some roads in rough shape — and in at least one case, completely closed.
The following roads are scheduled for repair:
- CR 9 – Clinton Furnace
- CR 27 – Millers Run Back Run
- CR 30 – Cook Road
- CR 44 – Henley Comstock
- CR 159 – Houston Hollow
- CR 181 – Nauvoo Pond Creek
Repairs will include building retaining walls and reconstructing sections of roadway to make them safe again.
Construction is expected to wrap up in 2027.
💬 “We Couldn’t Do This Without Grants”
Commissioners say this kind of work simply wouldn’t happen without outside funding.
One commissioner pointed to Clinton Furnace Road, which has been closed since the 2025 storm, as an example of just how severe the damage was.
Several roads across the county were impacted by heavy rains tied to remnants of a hurricane, leaving slips and unstable ground conditions behind.
Officials say the county engineer’s office is constantly applying for grant funding — sometimes even before the public is fully aware of the damage.
But they also made one thing clear:
these projects take time.
❗ Why This Money Can’t Fix Every Road
Here’s the part that often frustrates people.
Grant money is very specific:
- It can only be used for the exact projects it was approved for
- It cannot be shifted to other roads, even if those roads are in worse shape
And there’s another limitation:
- The county does not control roads inside cities or villages
- It also does not handle state routes or interstates
🧠 Final Thought
So if you’re driving down a rough stretch wondering why it hasn’t been fixed yet — it may not be ignored.
It may just be waiting on the right kind of money.
