YOUNGSTOWN — The state awarded $1.9 million for a $3.3 million preventative maintenance project to the Market Street Bridge.

The project, which will start next year, includes new lighting and fencing, the replacement of structural joints, a concrete overlay, drainage repairs and painting and repairing structural steel, Mahoning County Engineer Pat Ginnetti said.

The bridge connects downtown to Youngstown’s South Side.

“This is a maintenance and repair project to a bridge that needs it,” Ginnetti said. “This is a great thing. We were planning to use sales tax money for the project. The state award allows us to do more bridges in the city.”

The Market Street Bridge was one of 17 projects awarded a total of $59.49 million Wednesday through the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Local Major Bridge Program.

Gov. Mike DeWine in 2022 expanded the definition of a “local major bridge” to include smaller structures. That allowed the number of bridges eligible for funding under the program to go from 54 to 238, including the Market Street Bridge.

“We expanded this program to make an impact on more communities,” DeWine said. “With these funding awards, we’re helping local communities invest in the upkeep or replacement of bridges to ensure that those who cross them are safe.”

Charles Shasho, Youngstown’s deputy director of public works, said he was pleased with the news that the bridge would be improved.

The city is considering spending money to upgrade the bridge’s street lights to match the new ones installed on downtown streets that was part of a major $27.65 million improvement project that began in July 2020 and should be finished later this year, Shasho said.