10/4/18 – 5:09 A.M.

The Blanchard River widening project officially gets underway today. Several officials will attend a groundbreaking ceremony at noon near the river. Parking for the event will be available at 330 North Cory Street.

The $6.1 million project will increase the Blanchard’s capacity between the Norfolk Southern bridge and Broad Avenue. Engineers from Stantec Engineering expect the river benches to drop the 100-year flood by a foot in downtown Findlay. It will also remove around 600 properties from the floodplain.

Construction should finish by next September.