POMEROY — The Ohio Department of Transportation’s District 10 began spending its federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s transportation stimulus funds in Meigs County yesterday, according to ODOT Spokesperson David Rose.

Rose said $1.39 million is being spent in Meigs County to resurface both lanes of Ohio 7 from the Five Points area to Eastern High School. The resurfacing project is seven miles long, was sold to Shelly Company and should take about 30 days. Although one lane of traffic will be open at all times, motorists should expect some delays until the project is complete.

Rose said District 10 received the largest amount of federal transportation stimulus funds in the state, totaling around $155 million. Other projects in District 10 receiving funding, according to ODOT, are: Nelsonville Bypass phases two and three; Gallia County, Township Road 143 rehabilitation; Monroe County, Ohio 379, 7, 376 and 11,000 feet of guardrail along the Muskingum River, rehabilitation of three country bridges; City of Marietta, resurfacing of 7.6 miles; Washington County, Ohio 60, Washington Forest Highway Project.

In addition, ODOT District 10 received $2.3 million for rural public transit projects which includes: Rural Intercity Bus Program, three intercity ADA accessible coaches; City of Athens, bus stop shelters, one light transit vehicle w/ farebox, vehicle maintenance equipment, six vehicle bike racks, replacement HVAC for garage, capitalized maintenance; Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action, dispatch/scheduling software, designated grantee is Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action for one ADA Accessible Mini Van, security System, capitalized maintenance; Monroe County, three ADA accessible full size vans, one light Transit Vehicle, capitalized maintenance, facility purchase $325,000; Morgan County, one light transit narrow body vehicle, base to vehicle two-way radio system, Nelsonville rural intercity bus shelter.

In all, Ohio received $774 million of ARRA with an estimated 21,257 jobs being created or retained through these stimulus projects with thousands of additional jobs likely to be spurred by the economic develop that will occur as a result of the projects, according to ODOT.