CHAMPION — The Ohio Department of Transportation awarded $500,000 toward the replacement of a bridge that leads to the $30 million Mercy Health-Champion Emergency Center under construction.

Trumbull County Commissioner Rick Hernandez said: “This is absolutely beneficial. This project will definitely enhance that area with the emergency center. We hope that once Mercy is up and running with the emergency center that they build a hospital there in the future. The ultimate goal is to have Mercy take the area they have there and build a hospital.”

The $500,000 is critical to the bridge replacement, said Nicholas Coggins, assistant director of the county’s planning commission.

The bridge construction is going to cost $843,000 in addition to $200,000 that already went for the engineering of the project, Coggins said.

The project received about $293,000 from Kent State, Mercy Health and the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Coggins said.

The commissioners have set aside $250,000 to make up the rest of the cost, Coggins said.

Without the $500,000 from the ODOT’s Transportation Improvement District Program, Coggins said, “This project would not get done. It would be five years before we could do it.”

Mercy Health plans to open its facility at the beginning of next year, Coggins said.

“We’re going to get moving on construction and get the bridge replaced before Mercy opens,” he said. Mercy Health broke ground in August 2025 on the one-story, 30,000-square foot facility on Education Highway in front of the Trumbull Career & Technical Center.

Once opened, the facility will offer 24/7 emergency care in addition to a full laboratory and phlebotomy services.

The bridge in Champion received the maximum amount awarded through the Transportation District program.

It was among 24 road projects receiving $8.5 million in a Thursday announcement by the state.

Gov. Mike DeWine said: “A modern, reliable transportation system is a major catalyst for economic growth and community vitality. By directing targeting funding into these local infrastructure projects, we are unlocking billions in private sector investment and supporting tens of thousands of jobs for Ohioans.”