Balderson Hosts Tour of Progress at Buckeye Lake

State Senator Troy Balderson hosted a tour at Buckeye Lake earlier Thursday to get the latest update on the project to replace the deteriorated dam.

The tour follows news released earlier this week when the ‘Lakes in Economic Distress Grant Program** was announced, which will provide additional economic distress assistance for businesses impacted by lower lake levels. Balderson said the local residents and business owners had major concerns in the beginning, but now have a sense of relief, seeing the progress made in the construction.

“It was very rocky in the beginning and several business owners did get together I participated in those meetings,” said Sen. Balderson. “Once they knew this project was going to start and we were going to move forward with it the community and the business owners rolled their sleeves up and they dug in and they have worked forward continually.”

During our tour, we previewed phase one of the construction progress. Currently, crews are working to create a 4.1 mile long wall, that will reinforce the earthen dam structure.

“We’re out here today. We toured the three different soil mixing machines that we have on the site. Each of the soil mixing machine mix cement with the surrounding soils to create a cut-off wall that will be the first phase of the dam,” said Ian Nickey.

Phase one of the construction is scheduled to be completed by June, then they will begin phase two with the supporting buttress.