LISBON — An application will be submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration seeking $19.5 million toward the proposed South Lincoln Avenue railroad overpass project in Salem.

The Columbiana County commissioners authorized the application submission Wednesday and committed a local match of $250,000 from the county. The city of Salem is also committing $250,000, according to the resolution, along with $5 million being committed bythe Ohio Rail Development Commission, bringing the total estimated cost of the project to $25 million.

The grant will be sent to the FRA National Railroad Partnership Program/Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program for what is being called the Columbiana County Road-444A/South Lincoln Avenue Grade Separation Project. Columbiana County Road 444A is South Lincoln Avenue.

According to the resolution, the project “will alleviate much of the delays created for first responders and for the traveling public due to wait time at crossings and improve the flow of traffic between the county and the city of Salem.”

The resolution also called the grade separation “a necessary project for the health and safety of the citizens due to the rail lines dividing the county from the city and access to the Salem hospital and safety services.”

The county will own, operate and maintain the proposed bridge structure upon completion of the project.

County Chief Deputy Sanitary Engineer Troy Graft said the Ohio Rail Development Commission is sponsoring the application. He said they should know by next summer whether the application will be approved.

When asked how soon construction could begin, he said possibly in 2030.

The project had been first proposed many years ago and was recently revived. When asked how the project would affect Chestnut Grove Road and Allen Road, Graft said nothing has been engineered at this point.

In other business, the commissioners granted permission to Dan Volpe of Lisbon to trap only on the county’s County Home Road property.

The next meeting of the commissioners will be 9 a.m. Nov. 19 in the downtown courthouse.

mgreier@mojonews.com