ThisWeek CW 02/23/2012
Canal Winchester residents can expect a full summer of road construction projects as the Gender Road phase 2 and the city’s 2012 street improvement projects both get under way.
Public works director Matt Peoples told Canal Winchester City Council Monday the city currently is accepting bids through the beginning of March from construction companies for both projects, with anticipated contract awards taking place at the March 19 city council meeting.
“There’s been a lot of activity to get together the construction documents, specs and plans for phase 2 of the Gender Road project and for the 2012 street CIP,” city engineer Steve Farst said. “Navigating through Columbus, ODOT and the federal highway people and keeping it all on schedule was challenging.
“So we’re glad to see the projects under way for the year,” he added. “Gender Road should start end of March or early April with traffic cones and such in place by May.”
Bill Sims, the city’s construction services administrator, said officials are looking forward to getting the projects started. They will have award information and cost details for the March 19 council meeting, he said.
“The Gender Road phase 2 project is advertised for contractors to respond with a bid opening of March 9. We’ll have the actual price of the project at the council meeting,” Sims said. “The street CIP bid opening will be March 8, and we want to get the ball rolling. We anticipate some good bids on this project, too, because historically, we’ve gotten very competitive pricing.”
Phase 1 of the Gender Road project has been completed, according to Sims, and phase 2 will focus on widening the road from two lanes to four from Lehman Road south to U.S. Route 33.
“We’ve already seen that Columbia Gas is working to move its gas line and AT&T will be moving their lines and starting work soon, too,” Sims said.
Work included in the 2012 street CIP includes improvements throughout the city, according to Sims, but particularly the reconfiguration of East Columbus Street, the reconstruction of the Trine Street and Columbus Street intersection and more than 1,200 feet of sewer improvements in the Hocking and Trine streets area and near Cherry Landing to improve water drainage at Hanners Park.
“Right now, the intersection at Trine and Columbus is wide open, so there we will bring in the curbs to create a traffic-calming effect,” he said. “Aesthetically, it’ll mimic the West Columbus Street intersections. There will be new storm sewer from the railroad to Cherry Landing to improve the park system and help with drainage.”
Both project awards will require approval by city council.
Council’s March 19 meeting will start at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 10 N. High St.