ThisWeek CW 09/18/2014
http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2014/09/15/grants-sought-for-3-groveport-area-road-projects.html
The Franklin County Engineer’s Office and the city of Groveport are seeking more than $5 million in Ohio Public Works Commission funding for three separate projects on Hendron Road, West Bixby Road and the intersection of Winchester Pike and Shannon-Ebright roads.
Groveport City Administrator Marsha Hall said the $2,169,000 Hendron Road project would include reconstruction of the current road, as well as adding sidewalks, pedestrian paths, new water lines and lighting.
If OPWC funding is approved for the project, the county would be responsible for the stretch of Hendron Road that is in the unincorporated area — about 20 percent of the project, according to Hall. The work would be slated for completion over the next two years.
“The county agreed to pay their portion of the project for the unincorporated part of the road,” Hall said at Groveport City Council’s Sept. 8 meeting.
Besides the Hendron Road project, the city has also applied for a grant for the estimated $850,000 resurfacing of West Bixby Road.
Franklin County Engineer’s Office representative Jim Pike said this year’s upgrades to the intersection of Winchester Pike and Shannon-Ebright roads were just the first step to address serious safety issues, and the county hopes an OPWC grant will be awarded to allow completion of what the engineer’s office considers to be necessary changes.
“We need to widen the bridge to allow for additional turn lanes on all four sides of the intersection, as well as installing an improved signal at the intersection,” Pike said.
“This year’s intersection improvements that added a couple of turn lanes and the current signal are a stopgap until we can do the rest of this work.”
According to Pike, the project is estimated to cost about $2 million. He hopes to secure 80 percent of the money through the grant. If approved, construction might not take place until 2017, but Pike said the engineer’s office hopes the work can be moved up to 2016.
Township trustee Gary McDonald said he’s thankful for the improvements that have already been made, and hopes additional work will further increase safety.
“With future developments anticipated in the southeast quadrant, the final design phase at this intersection in widening of the bridge, extension of turn lanes and the possible rerouting of the bicycle path will help ensure the safety of all passing through this area,” McDonald said. “This proposed project will benefit residents by having a smoother traffic flow with less delays when turning and fewer accidents.”