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Franklin County Engineer

As a local public works agency headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the Franklin County Engineer's Office is responsible for the maintenance and construction of 271 miles of county roadway and 351 county bridges, as well as upkeep of all county ditches, drains, retention basins, and other storm water facilities within the right-of-way of county roads in unincorporated areas. To meet the continuing development and infrastructure needs of Franklin County, the Engineer's Office utilizes the latest technologies for determining and maintaining roadway centerlines and boundaries; retracing and setting new monuments for original public land surveys; preparing geographic information system mapping for real estate tax assessments; and establishing precise countywide horizontal and vertical control to maintain uniformity in construction, surveying, and mapping.
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
Walnut Street, at the intersection of Walnut Street and New Albany-Condit Road (SR-605), is closed for construction of a multi-lane roundabout. The closure will last approximately ninety (90) days, weather permitting.
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Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
March is Women’s History Month, and we honor the pioneers whose vision, courage, and leadership have shaped industries, strengthened communities, and expanded opportunity for generations. From infrastructure and innovation to medicine, education, public service, and beyond, women’s contributions continue to transform the world around us in powerful and lasting ways. The 2026 theme, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” reminds us that progress is driven by those willing to lead boldly and inspire what comes next. #WomensHistoryMonth
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Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
W. North Broadway over the Olentangy River will be reduced to one lane in each direction, between SR-315 N. On-Ramp/Ohio Health Parkway and Milton Avenue, beginning Monday, March 9, 2026, for bridge rehabilitation. The closure will last approximately one-hundred fifty-two (152) days, weather permitting.
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Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
Women in Construction week is March 1-7, 2026. This week, we recognize the women in our office and across the construction industry who show up every day and do the work that keeps our communities moving. From engineering and surveying to inspections, project coordination, and operations, your professionalism, skill, and commitment matter. Thank you for your dedication and service to Franklin County. #WomenInConstructionWeek
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Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
The FCEO Survey Department, Records Department, and Tax Map Division were proud to participate in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Central Ohio STEM Expo, held at Otterbein University. Our team engaged with students and families, sharing how professional surveyors define property boundaries, map communities, and support the infrastructure projects residents rely on every day. It was a great opportunity to highlight the real-world impact of STEM careers and introduce students to the surveying profession. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn more about how surveying helps build and connect our communities!
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Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
As we close out Engineers Week, the Franklin County Engineer’s Office proudly recognizes the incredible engineers who serve our community every single day. Your work often happens behind the scenes, in plans, calculations, site visits, and long hours of review, yet the impact is visible everywhere: in the bridges that connect our communities, the roads that carry families safely home, and the infrastructure that supports growth, opportunity, and progress. This year’s theme, “Transform Your Future,” reflects the work you lead each day. Through innovation, precision, and dedication, you are building a stronger future for Franklin County. Thank you for the expertise and commitment you bring to our office and the community we serve.
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Franklin County Engineer's Office
970 DUBLIN ROAD
COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215
(614) 525-3030
fracoeng@franklincountyengineer.org
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Surveyor’s Journal Entry Twenty-Three

Surveyor’s Journal Entry Twenty-Three

The Dawn of Modern Surveying and Road Construction

By the early 1900s, the Franklin County surveyor was actively replacing stone survey monuments with iron pins. This endeavor was symbolic of the start of the modern age of surveying. The magnetic characteristics of the metal enabled the markers to be readily retrieved for the establishment of precise vertical control throughout the area.

Surveys started in 1899 by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (CGS), under the federal Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Geological Survey created the first coast-to-coast survey record of the nation, including precise topographic and hydrologic maps of Franklin County.

New local surveys and land use plans lead to the formal establishment of the “Columbus enclave” communities of Marble Cliff (1901), Grandview Heights (1906), Bexley (1908), Whitehall (1910) and Upper Arlington (1913).

Following the devastating Flood of 1913, the City of Columbus joined with the Franklin County Surveyor, The Ohio State University and the CGS to conduct a precise survey of 80 square miles of the city, using horizontal and vertical control, in preparation for land redevelopment and flood control projects.

The start of the “Auto Age” brought about a renewed effort to improve the area’s transportation infrastructure. The introduction of asphalt and concrete pavements finally provided a lasting solution to the problem of muddy and rut-filled streets.

During the Great Depression, the Federal Works Progress Administration, Public Works Administration, and Civilian Conservation Corps put thousands of unemployed Ohioans back to work building roads, bridges, drainage, and landscape infrastructure. The average annual application of hot mix asphalt on the state’s thoroughfares rose more than 1,000 percent from 19,400 tons in 1929 to 210,000 tons by 1940.

Amidst this prolific period of construction, the Ohio Legislature officially redesignated the position of “County Surveyor” to that of “County Engineer,” in 1935, to officially provide for both the surveying and highway engineering needs of the state’s evolving counties. Only those who hold both an Ohio Professional Engineers (P.E.) and Professional Surveyors (P.S.) license may qualify for the publically elected office. Past Franklin County Surveyors and Engineers (link within site)

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