ThisWeek CW 06/26/2014
http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2014/06/23/winchester-lithopolis-winchester-council-oks-3-way-stop-sign-at-intersection.html
Safety concerns about the intersection of Winchester-Lithopolis Road and Winchester Road will be addressed as part of summer road projects in Canal Winchester.
A new three-way stop sign will be installed — at no cost to the city — in coming weeks in response to a county engineer’s traffic study, which was requested after city officials received reports of several incidents in which accidents were narrowly avoided.
City Public Works Director Matt Peoples told Canal Winchester City council at its June 16 meeting that the intersection, which is a juncture of jurisdiction among Fairfield and Franklin counties and Canal Winchester, has had increased sight-distance issues following the reconstruction of the bridge across Walnut Creek.
“There are some sight-distance issues and the new bridge railing is just high enough you can’t see the lower cars, so there’s been some near misses,” he said.
“People get going some pretty good speeds there. It’s always been a confusing intersection, so the Franklin County engineer did a study and provided it to us and Fairfield County, and with help from EMH&T, we determined the best course of action is the three-way stop.”
Council members voted unanimously to approve the project, which will include restriping the intersection and the installation of the stop signs. Peoples said there wasn’t expected to be any cost to the city.
Councilman James Wynkoop thanked Peoples, saying, “We definitely need this.”
The city’s engineer, Adam Voris from EMH&T, also updated council about a new Ohio Public Works Commission grant application that is being prepared.
“We’re working on the next OPWC application for the intersection of Gender and Groveport roads,” Voris said. “After a traffic study was made, we recommend putting two left-turn lanes on northbound Gender Road and a right turn lane eastbound on Groveport Road as well.”
Voris said the city might consider a below-grade pedestrian crossing as well to “free up the green light times in all four quadrants.”
Roundabout update
In other road construction news, city Construction Services Administrator, Bill Sims, said the Gender Road Phase 3 project at Gender and Lithopolis roads is on schedule, with street closures starting now, and taking place through the end of the project.
According to information online at cwroundabout.com, the intersection is expected to be closed for about 45 days, with the new roundabout open by the time school starts in the fall.