Gallia BUILD Projects 

     The project consists of raising quality of life for "at risk residents"according to Appalachian Regional Commission by replacing 136 miles of stone/dirt county roads with a hard surface using an innovative pavement design developed through a research project with the Ohio Department of Transportation's Ohio Research Initiative for Locals (ORIL). The pavement design will save 52% the cost of traditional designs. In addition, the project will provide main line data connectivity connections for secondary road vehicle testing, impacting over 400 square miles of Southeastern Ohio. Nearly all 400 square miles in coal strip mine territory. As of 2016, all coal companies were forced to close in Southeastern Ohio impacting opportunity to the region. 

     Many of these roads see constant closures, stranding residents of access to their jobs,medical care, schools, grocery stores, emergency response time, etc., in many cases for several days. Such closures have a substantial effect on survival of farms during harvest time, especially when having difficulty delivering their products to market due to the road closures.

     Nearly 90% of the issues raised by residents in Southeastern Ohio, are due to poor air quality on stone and dirt roads. Dust from these roads during the summer have attributed to severe breathing problems including asthma and dust allergies among children and adults. Dust has been linked to lung cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and silicosis. These diseases cause permanent disability and early death. The project extends into an air quality non-attainment area.