2010 – 2006 Headlines

2010 News Headlines

11-24-10: East Orange Road To Open Dec. 3

The new roundabout at the intersection of East Orange Road and Walker Wood/Abbey Knoll is scheduled to open 12/3. The previously scheduled 11/29 opening is being delayed by several days due to inclement weather. Orange Road will remain open to traffic through the winter months. Construction on the bridge just east of Old State Road will begin in March, requiring a 4 to 5 week closure. The dates of the closure will be released when they are available.

11-23-10: Radnor Road Bridge Open Today:

The new bridge over the Scioto River is now open to traffic.  Work on the $1.5 million project to replace the old 210-foot span was completed ahead of schedule and on budget.

10-14-10: Liberty Road Now Open:

The newly realigned section of Liberty Road north of Home Road opened to traffic today along with red and green operation of the new traffic signal at Home Road. This work was part of a $3.1 million construction project to relocate Liberty Road North and widen both Home Road and Liberty Road south to 3-lanes with wider shoulders. All critical work is complete and over a month ahead of schedule.

This project dovetails with the Home Road Grade Separation project, which includes a new bridge over the CSX Railroad. That project is scheduled for completion in summer 2011. Traffic will be maintained on Home Road until that time.

09-22-10: Bale Kenyon Road Open to Traffic:

Bale Kenyon Road is now open to East Orange Road. The final pavement surface, road markings and signing is in place at the new roundabout. East Orange Road at Abbey Knoll remains closed to through traffic.  Access to the Orange Friends Church remains from Bale Kenyon. The intersection of Abbey Knoll/Walker Wood and Orange Road will reopen in November after that roundabout is completed.

09-17-10: Old 3C Highway Now Open in Galena:

Construction on the bridge over Hoover Reservoir is now complete and the road is open to traffic.

08-23-10: State Route 315 to Close August 30 for 30 days:

ODOT will be close State Route 315 between Bean Oller Road and Hyatts Road to replace two culverts. Local access will be maintained at all times.  While SR 315 is closed, ODOT’s forces will also trim roadside brush and cut back hanging limbs in both directions to improve visibility and safety.  The posted detour uses SR 750 east to US 23 north to 315.

08-04-10: Public Meeting Scheduled for South Old State Road Corridor Study, August 9 at Orange Township Hall:

The County Engineer’s Office will be hosting a public meeting to share information and gather feedback about the study being performed on South Old State Road from Polaris to U.S. 36.  The meeting will be held at the Orange Township Hall, 1680 East Orange Road, Lewis Center, Ohio from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on August 9, 2010.  There will be no formal presentation; the meeting will follow an open house format.  If you are unable to visit the meeting, you can find more information at the project website,www.southoldstateroad.org.

07-02-10: Worthington Road Closure (Westerville and Columbus Project):

The City of Westerville and City of Columbus will be reconstructing Worthington Road from Lazelle Road to County Line Road West beginning in mid-July.  Worthington Road will be closed to through traffic with a posted detour using Lazelle Road to Sancus to Polaris Pkwy. to Orion, and the reverse.  You can find more information about this project on the City of Westerville’s website by clicking here.

06-18-10: Old 3-C Highway to Close in Galena Beginning July 6

The Old 3-C Highway bridge over Hoover Reservoir in Galena will close beginning July 6 for approximately 2 months. The bridge will undergo rehabilitation including replacement of the bridge deck and superstructure. The new bridge deck will be wider with improved railing.  Traffic will be detoured using Lewis Center Road to S.R. 3 to S.R. 37 (in Sunbury), and the reverse.

06-15-10: Liberty Road to Close June 22 for 3 weeks for Culvert Replacement

Liberty Road will be closed beginning June 22, just south of Hawthorn Boulevard.  The closure will last 3 weeks while crews replace a large concrete culvert.  The posted detour uses London Road to US 42 to Bunty Station, and the reverse.

06-08-10: East Orange and Bale Kenyon Intersection to Close June 10 to Aug 20

The intersection of East Orange Road and Bale Kenyon Road will be closed from June 10 to August 20 for construction of a roundabout.  Access to Freedom Trail Elementary will be maintained only for employees of the school. Through traffic is being detoured using Powell Road to Worthington Road to Africa Road, or the reverse.

This work is part of the East Orange Road Improvements project that will rebuild East Orange Road from Old State to Bale Kenyon, including three new roundabouts at the intersections of Roespark, Walker Wood and Bale Kenyon. The $4 million project is funded by Orange Township and is being administered by the County Engineer’s Office.

05-10-10: Home Road Railroad Grade Separation Project Kicks Off

The County Engineer’s Office is pleased to announce the start of a $7.7 million dollar construction project to build a bridge over the CSX Railroad on Home Road, located just north of Powell, Ohio. Delaware County and ODOT developed this project to improve traffic congestion and safety at the current at-grade railroad crossing.  Construction will go through summer 2011.  Traffic will be maintained on Home Road. Woodcutter Drive will be  closed at Home Road; use Sawmill Parkway to access Woodcutter.

04-27-10: Green Cook Road to Close May 3 for 75 days

Green Cook Road will be closed south of Center Village Road beginning May 3 for replacement of the bridge over Duncan Run. The closure will last approximately 75 days.   The detour uses Center Village Road to South County Line Road to Fancher Road, and the reverse.

04-27-10: Porter Central Road Closed May 3 for 60 days

Porter Central Road will be closed north of Centerburg Road for about 60 days starting May 3 for replacement of a bridge. Work on the intersection at Centerburg Road will begin in late June or early July with a 21 day full closure of the intersection.  The detour route uses Fredricks Road.

04-14-10: Home Road and Liberty Road Construction to Begin April 27

Widening of Home Road near Liberty Park will begin April 27. Home Road will be widened to 3 lanes including turn lanes at the park entrance and at the new intersection of Liberty Road. This work is part of a $3.1 million project to realign Liberty Road north of Home Road.

02-12-10: Cheshire & 3B’s & K Intersection Improvements Being Studied

The County Engineer’s Office is currently studying improvements to the intersection of Cheshire Road and 3 B’s & K Road. The existing intersection is deficient due to poor geometrics, sight distance and accident history.

2009 News Headlines

11-30-09: Red Bank Road Now Open

The Red Bank Road bridge over Hoover Reservoir is now open to traffic. Reconstruction of the 55-year old bridge is complete, including a new steel beam superstructure and a wider concrete deck. Piers were also partially rebuilt to increase the load capacity of the bridge.

11-05-09: London Road Now Open

London Road in Delaware reopens today after reconstruction of the concrete pavement near U.S. 42. This phase of the county-wide ARRA funded resurfacing project included over 700 cubic yards of new concrete pavement, replacing the deteriorated concrete pavement originally built in the 1960’s.

10-14-09: London Road in Delaware to Close October 21 for 14 days (Correction)

London Road in the City of Delaware will close on October 21 for 14 days to rebuild the concrete pavement near the intersection of U.S. 42. Traffic will be detoured onto Pittsburgh Drive to South Section Line Road to U.S. 42, or the reverse.

This work is part of the county-wide resurfacing project funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Click here for more details on this project.

09-28-09: Cheshire Road in Sunbury to Close October 13 for Approximately 10 Days

Cheshire Road in the Village of Sunbury will close on October 13 for approximately 10 days while crews rebuild the road base and construct new asphalt pavement. Through traffic must follow the posted detour, which uses Domigan Road to US 36, or the reverse.  Local traffic should use Miller Drive to Fairland Drive, or the reverse.

This work is part of the county-wide resurfacing project funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the federal stimulus bill). The $1.795 million contract for the county-wide program was awarded to the Shelly Company on September 21.  Construction will begin next week and run through early November.

Click here for more information about the Delaware County ARRA Resurfacing Project.

September 25, 2009–Giehl Road to Close September 28 Until November 30

Crews will begin replacement of the bridge over Leatherwood Run beginning Monday, September 28.  The $525,233 contract was awarded to Double Z Construction of Columbus, Ohio.  The new precast concrete bridge will replace the 90 year old, structurally deficient bridge.

Traffic to local residences will be maintained.  Motorists should use North Old State Road to Leonardsburg Road as a detour.  Please click here for more information about this project.

September 16, 2009–Old State Road North of Lewis Center Road to Close September 21 for 45 days

Reconstruction of the north leg of the Old State and Lewis Center Road intersection will be underway starting September 21.  The work will last for 45 days, while crews rebuild and widen the pavement for a turn lane and regrade the roadside ditches.  The south leg of the intersection is scheduled to reopen to traffic this Friday, September 19, about a week ahead of schedule.

After completing reconstruction on the north leg, crews will begin rebuilding the center of the intersection, which will require short term closures. Construction of the traffic signal will follow and is scheduled to be completed by December.  Please monitor this web page for further updates.

August 25, 2009–Sawmill Parkway at Hyatts Road Now Open

The Sawmill Parkway extension to Hyatts Road opened this afternoon, including the first modern roundabout built by the County Engineer’s Office.  This 0.54 mile phase of the parkway links Hyatts Road to the Golf Village North section that was completed in 2006.

The $2.9 million construction project was designed by Burgess & Niple of Columbus and built by Trucco Construction of Delaware.  This segment of the parkway provides an important transportation link in Liberty Township, improving access for area residents and school traffic in addition to fire, police and EMS vehicles.

The modern roundabout at Hyatts Road is the first designed and built under the direction of the County Engineer.  While they may be new to some Delaware County residents, roundabouts have been successfully implemented at many locations throughout Central Ohio.  To help educate motorists about roundabouts, the County Engineer’s Office recently partnered with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), Franklin County Engineer, and the cities of Dublin, Gahannaand Hilliard to produce a short educational video called Roundabouts: Keep In The Loop.  The video provides instruction on how to safely drive a roundabout and includes information about why roundabouts are safer and more efficient choices for many intersections.  Click here for more information.

August 19, 2009–Orange Road Bridge Now Open

Phase 1 of the Orange Road Bridge Project is now complete with the opening of the new bridge over the Olentangy River.  The 271-foot span was completed under budget and more than a week ahead of schedule by Eagle Bridge Company of Sidney, Ohio.  The temporary 2-way stop intersection at S.R. 315 will serve until a roundabout is built later this year or next spring, pending ODOT approval.

The bridge, designed by WD Transportation of Dublin, Ohio is a haunched girder design using high performance concrete in the deck and railing that will resist deterioration from water and de-icing salts.  The weathering steel girders will not require paint and will develop a natural brown color after several months of aging.  The jointless superstructure design prevents degradation of the steel girders from leaking expansion joints that has led to rapid deterioration of similar bridges built in the 20th century.  Architectural features such as stone patterns and wood railing were added to the bridge to create a design that fits in with the Olentangy River corridor.

The opening of the bridge represents an important milestone in the project, restoring connectivity between U.S. 23 and S.R. 315 for area residents.  The County Engineer would like to thank area residents for their patience while this phase of the project was completed.  Click here for more information about the Orange Road Bridge Project.

August 17, 2009–Carter’s Corner Road to Close August 24

Carter’s Corner Road will close between Wilson Road and Twigg-Hupp Road beginning August 24 for a bridge replacement.  The closure is expected to last until November 27.

Shelly and Sands, Inc. was awarded the  $528,000 construction contract to replace the 45 year old, structurally deficient bridge and realign the sharp curve at the bridge.  County Engineer’s staff prepared construction plans for the project and staff engineers and inspectors will oversee construction of the improvement.

Please click here for more information about this project.

August 3, 2009–South Old State Road Closed Monday, August 10 for 45 Days

South Old State Road will be closed south of Lewis Center Road at Parklawn Drive beginning Monday, August 10 for 45 days.  Crews will widen the road for a northbound turn lane.  Drivers should use Orange Road to US 23 to Lewis Center Road, or the reverse, as an alternate.  Click here for more project information.

July 28, 2009–Lewis Center Road Now Open

Lewis Center Road west of Old State Road was reopened to traffic today, 5 days ahead of schedule.  The pavement has been widened to accommodate turn lanes for the traffic signal that will be installed later this fall.  In addition to the pavement work, drainage was improved on this leg of the intersection, with a new culvert and re-graded ditches.  Construction will move to the south leg of the intersection once utility relocation is complete, requiring a closure of South Old State Road.  The dates of the closure will be posted as soon as they are available.

July 21, 2009–Red Bank Road to Close July 27 for 120 Days for Bridge Rehabilitation

Red Bank Road (County Road 31) will close between Smothers Road and Gorsuch Road beginning July 27 for 120 days while a major rehabilitation of the 1954 bridge over Hoover Reservoir is done.  The project includes replacement of the bridge superstructure and deck.  The roadway width across the bridge will be increased from 24 feet to 30 feet, providing improved safety for both vehicles and cyclists.

Red Bank Road will be open to local traffic to Duncans Glen Drive (south) and Lake of the Woods Drive (north).  The detour route uses Gorsuch Road to Harlem Road to Smothers Road, or the reverse.

Double Z Construction of Columbus, Ohio was awarded the $914,357 construction contract.  Delaware County received federal local bridge funding to pay for 80% of the cost to build this project.  Credit for other county bridge projects that have been funded entirely by  County road and bridge dollars provided the 20% local match for this project.  Please click here to visit the project information page for additional details.

July 21, 2009–Ashley Road to Close July 27 for 30 days for Culvert Replacement

Ashley Road (County Road 246) will be closed between Maloney Road and Shoemaker Road beginning July 27 and will remain closed for approximately 30 days while county crews replace a deteriorated culvert.  The culvert is located about 500 feet north of Maloney Road.  Motorists should use US 42 as an alternate route.

July 14, 2009 Public Notice–Countywide Resurfacing funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

The Delaware County Engineer is administering a pavement resurfacing project that will be funded with ARRA federal stimulus funds.  The scope of work will be limited to asphalt resurfacing and pavement rehabilitation work with no changes to the width of the roadway or shoulder.  The following sections of road will be impacted by this project:

• London Road from U.S. Route 42 approximately 500 feet north in the City of Delaware;
• Cheshire Road from U.S. Route 23 to Braumiller Road in the City of Delaware;
• Bale Kenyon Road from East Powell Road to Lewis Center Road;
• West Orange Road from Perry Road to U.S. Route 23;
• Liberty Street from the CSX Railroad to State Route 750 in the City of Powell;
• Liberty Road from Freedom Lane to London Road in the City of Delaware;
• Cheshire Road from the Sunbury Corp. Line to U.S. Route 36 in Sunbury;
• Home Road from State Route 745 to Scioto Parkway;
• Africa Road from Worthington Road to Big Walnut Road;
• Lewis Center Road from the Olentangy High School Entrance to Woodstone Drive;
• Harriott Road from Concord Road to State Route 745, and;
• Concord Road from Dublin city limits to Cook Road

The Delaware County Engineer would like your comments on this proposed project.  You can submit your questions or comments to the Engineer’s Office by e-mail at delcoeng@co.delaware.oh.us, by regular mail to the Delaware County Engineer, 50 Channing Street, Delaware, Ohio or by calling 740-833-2400.

July 13, 2009–State Route 3 and Freeman Road Intersection Project Public Meeting Exhibits Now Available

Exhibits from the July 9 public meeting on the State Route 3 and Freeman Road Intersection Project are now available for download.  Please click here to visit the project information page.  We welcome your comments and suggestions on this project.  Please submit your comments no later than July 24.

June 25, 2009 – State Route 3 and Freeman Road Intersection Project Public Meeting Scheduled for July 9, 2009

The intersection of State Route 3 and Freeman Road, located about 2 miles north of Westerville, is currently being studied by Genoa Township, the Delaware County Engineer and Ohio Department of Transportation for improvements.  The project team has developed feasible alternatives for turn lanes, a traffic signal and pedestrian crossings at the intersection and would like to hear your opinions about the project.

An open house meeting will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at the Genoa Township Administration and Zoning Office, 5111 South Old 3C Highway, Westerville, Ohio 43082 to present feasible alternatives and seek public comment.

If you cannot attend the open house event, we would still like your input.  The County Engineer has developed a web page for interested persons to learn about the project, view preferred alternatives and submit their comments or questions.

design/projects/freeman-sr3.htm.  You can also submit your questions or comments to the Engineer’s Office by e-mail at delcoeng@co.delaware.oh.us, by regular mail to the Delaware County Engineer, 50 Channing Street, Delaware, Ohio or by calling 740-833-2400.

The project team will evaluate all public comments on alternatives and will select a preferred alternative to move forward with.  Please submit your comments no later than July 24.

June 11, 2009 – West Leg of Lewis Center and South Old State Intersection To Close June 18 for 45 days

The west leg of the Lewis Center Road and South Old State intersection will close on June 18 and last for 45 days.  The posted detour for this phase uses U.S. 23 to East Orange Road to South Old State, and the reverse.  This closure coincides with the re-opening of the east leg of the intersection, 2 weeks ahead of schedule, by Kokosing Construction Company.

The intersection will continue to operate as a multi-way stop until all 4 legs of the intersection are completed and the traffic signal is built.  The new pavement on the east leg of the intersection is temporarily marked as a 2 lane roadway.  Final pavement and markings will be placed this fall, and will include turn lanes.  Click here for more information about the project.

May 27, 2009 – 2009 Road Improvement Program Is Underway

Resurfacing and preventative pavement maintenance projects on various county and township roads is now underway and will go until September.  Kokosing Construction of Westerville, Ohio was awarded the $3.9 million contract to pave and perform preventative maintenance such as pavement and crack sealing on numerous county and township roads.  Click here to learn more about this project and to download an up-to-date construction schedule.

May 15, 2009 – Lewis Center Road Closed Starting May 18 for 45 days

Lewis Center Road from South Old State Road extending 1000 feet east will be closed beginning Monday, May 18 for 45 days.  Motorists should use Bale Kenyon Road to East Orange Road to Old State Road (or the reverse) as a detour route.  Willow Springs Drive will be open to Lewis Center Road, however, Beechmont Drive will be closed.

The intersection of South Old State and Lewis Center Roads will be rebuilt this summer to include turn lanes and a new traffic signal.  The $1.57 million construction project will improve safety and efficiency at this intersection which currently serves over 14,000 vehicles every day.  Delaware County received funding assistance from the Ohio Public Works Commission for up to $484,000 of construction costs.

The east leg closure is expected to last until July 2, followed by sequential closures of the north, west and south legs for an additional 45 days each.  Closure for reconstruction of each of those legs will last approximately 45 days each.  Please monitor this website and the message signs placed at the intersection for more information.

We appreciate your patience during this project and are confident that the resulting improvement will be worth the inconvenience.  Click here for more information about the project.

April 15, 2009 – South Old 3-C Hwy. Bridge Rehabilitation Project to Receive Federal Stimulus Funding

Delaware County will receive up to $1.5 million in federal stimulus funding to rehabilitate the structurally deficient bridge on South Old 3-C Hwy. over Hoover Reservoir, located in the southwest portion of the Village of Galena.  The 197-foot span was identified as an eligible project in February and was selected to receive a portion of the $28 million in highway infrastructure funding allocated to the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.  The 55-year old bridge has been on the Engineer’s Office Capital Improvement plan for the last several years awaiting funding to do the rehabilitation.

The County Engineer will work with ODOT to complete required environmental studies before awarding a design-build contract later this year.  A design-build project combines design and construction elements into a single contract, reducing the time needed to complete a project.

The County Engineer welcomes your suggestions on this project.  Please click here to visit the project information page for more information and to submit your comments or questions.

March 10, 2009 – Center Village Road Closed 1/4 mile west of Green Cook Road until July 31

Crews will begin work today to replace two structurally deficient bridges on Center Village Road located about 1/4 mile west of Green Cook Road (or about 1 mile east of State Route 605) is currently underway.  R&I Construction of Tiffin, Ohio was awarded the construction contract for $478,037, or about $112,000 less than the $590,900 estimated cost.  Construction will be complete this July.

The detour route uses State Route 605 to Fancher Road to South County Line Road, or the reverse.  Please visit the project information page for more details.

2008 News Headlines

December 31, 2008 – Preferred Alternative for Home Road & S.R. 257 Selected

After careful study and consideration of the public comments received by both the public meeting as well as the project website, the Delaware County Engineers Office (DCEO) in conjunction with The Ohio Department of Transportation has selected alternative R-3 as the preferred alternative effective 12-9-08.  The DCEO will continue to update and share information related to the project via this website as the project moves forward.  Click here to go to the project website:www.home257.org

December 8, 2008 – Orange Road Bridge Construction Schedule Update

The contract for construction of the Orange Road bridge over the Olentangy River was awarded to Eagle Bridge Company of Sidney, Ohio for $2.71 million dollars, or about $500,000 less than the original estimate of $3.2 million.  Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of December.  Crews will begin work on the foundations of the new 271-foot span bridge this winter while fabrication of the new steel girders takes place at the fabricator’s facility in Missouri.  Completion of the bridge and realignment of Orange Road is on schedule for late August 2009.

November 7, 2008 – Orange Road Bridge Construction Schedule Update

The construction contract for the new Orange Road bridge over the Olentangy River is currently advertised for bids.  The construction contract will be awarded in early December with construction on the new 271-foot span bridge expected to begin in mid to late December.  The new bridge is scheduled to be open to traffic in late August 2009.  Please visit the project website at www.OrangeRoadBridge.org for more information about this project.

October 28, 2008 – Charles Sheets is retiring as chairman of the Delaware County Railroad Crossing Task Force

The retiring leader of the Delaware County Railroad Crossing Task Force would like to see more citizens get active to improve rail crossing safety.  Charles Sheets, 82, is stepping down from the task force which he has led since it first elected officers in 1998.  During Sheets’ chairmanship, more than $2 million has been invested in additional gates, warning lights, and other safety improvements at rail crossings in Delaware County.  Click here for more information.

October 27, 2008 – Wilson Road Bridge Now Open to Traffic

The replacement of the bridge on Wilson Road (Township Road 56) located about 3 miles northeast of the I-71 and US 36 interchange is nearly complete. Final pavement markings will be placed later this week when weather allows.  R&I Construction of Tiffin, Ohio opened the bridge one month ahead of schedule.

The $735,000 Wilson Road bridge project included replacement of a narrow, structurally deficient steel beam bridge (built in the 1930’s) with a new 3-span concrete deck slab bridge.  The bridge carries nearly 2000 vehicles each day and is designed to accommodate future traffic growth in this area.

The Wilson Road bridge project, together with the recently completed widening of North Galena Road, have dramatically improved the safety of the roads in this area.  The North Galena reconstruction project was funded by the developer of the Northstar Golf Resort.

October 6, 2008 – Public Meeting for Home Road & SR 257 Project Scheduled for October 21, 2008

An informational meeting for planned improvements to the intersections of Home Road, State Route 257 (Riverside Drive) and Section Line Road will be held October 21, 2008 from 4:30 to 6:30pm at Indian Springs Elementary School, 3828 Home Road, Powell, Ohio 43065.  County Engineer’s staff will be there to provide information and answer questions about the project scope and schedule.  Several alternatives will be presented for improvements to the intersections and we will be seeking your input on each of them.  Click here for more information on this project.

September 15, 2008 – Wind Storm Downs Power Lines and Trees

A severe wind storm on Sunday, September 14 caused extensive damage in Delaware County and surrounding areas.  Trees were blown into power lines and across roads causing widespread power outages and road closures.  Delaware County crews began work immediately on clearing downed trees from area roads, though the power company’s line crews must remove downed power lines at some locations before the trees can be cleared. Stay clear of any downed power lines and monitor local news outlets for more information.

September 11, 2008 – Radnor Road over Scioto River 3 Ton Weight Limit Now In Effect

A 3-ton weight limit for vehicles crossing the Radnor Road bridge over the Scioto River is now in effect.  The weight reduction was in response to recent inspections of the bridge that showed accelerated deterioration in the floor system.  Passenger cars and light trucks may continue to use the bridge; however, heavier trucks must use an alternate route.  The designated truck detour route uses State Route 203 to Hoskins Road to State Route 257, and the reverse.

The bridge is scheduled for reconstruction in 2010.  The posted weight limit is intended to keep the bridge open to light duty traffic until the new bridge is open to traffic.  Contact the Engineer’s Office for more information.

September 8, 2008 – Bunty Station Reconstruction Project Complete

Reconstruction of Bunty Station Road is complete.  The $1.4 million project to rebuild the deteriorated pavement took just 4 weeks to complete.  Shelly & Sands, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio built approximately 1,800 feet of new concrete pavement and 3.2 miles of asphalt pavement between South Section Line Road and State Route 315.

The project was a cooperative effort between Delaware, Liberty and Concord Townships and Delaware County.  A $400,000 grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission contributed to the project.  Click here for more information.

August 8, 2008 – Bunty Station Reconstruction Project Beginning August 11

Reconstruction of Bunty Station Road between South Section Line Road and Olentangy River Road (SR 315) will begin August 11.  The $1.4 million project includes pavement reconstruction, ranging from asphalt paving west of Liberty Road to construction of new concrete pavement near SR 315.   Phased closures of the road will be required during portions of the project.  Please check this website and watch for updates on dates of road closures.  Click here for more information about this project.

July 7, 2008 – Harlem Road Closed for 6 weeks

Harlem Road between Gorsuch Road and Fancher Road will be closed for 6 weeks while Delaware County crews replace an old, narrow concrete bridge.  The project includes replacement of the structure with a new, wider precast concrete box culvert and associated drainage improvements.  Installation of guardrail will complete the project.

Click here to visit the project information page for more details or feel free to contact the County Engineer’s Office directly for more information.

June 17, 2008 -North Old State Road Now Open

The reconstruction of the North Old State Road bridge over Leatherwood Run, located about 3/4 mile north of State Route 521 is complete and the road is open to traffic.

Shelly & Sands, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio completed construction on the project ahead of schedule.  The new bridge is a 32-foot span precast concrete arch culvert, replacing the 30-foot span steel pony-truss bridge.  The old truss bridge will be reused by Delaware County Preservation Parks for a recreational trail bridge.  Crews also rebuilt about 700 feet of the roadway near the bridge to lessen the steep vertical curve and improve sight distance.

June 9, 2008 – River Road Bridge Construction Complete

Construction of the new bridge on River Road (Township Road 187) over Utz Run, located just north of Radnor Road was completed on June 5.  The bridge is now open to traffic.

The old, narrow concrete slab bridge was replaced with a new 20-foot span precast concrete box culvert carrying two lanes of traffic.  Pavement widening and installation of guardrail completed the project.

For more information about this project, please click here.

June 2, 2008 – Countywide Resurfacing Schedule

The 2008 Countywide road resurfacing program is underway.  Click here for more information about this project and for an up-to-date construction schedule.

May 29, 2008 – Red Bank Road Bridge Closure June 9-13 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

The Red Bank Road bridge over Hoover Reservoir will be closed Monday, June 9 through Friday, June 13 between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm daily, for subsurface investigation as part of the project to rehabilitate the 55 year old structure.  The detour will use Smothers Road to Harlem Road to Gorsuch Road, and the reverse.

The bridge is scheduled for reconstruction beginning in the fall of 2009, including replacement of the steel beam superstructure, modification of piers and abutments and a new concrete deck.  Click here for more information about this project.

May 19, 2008 – Orange Road Bridge Project Update

The County Engineer is nearing completion on final engineering plans for the new Orange Road bridge.  The project team is currently negotiating with affected property owners for the necessary right of way to build the new bridge.  Construction on the new bridge is scheduled to begin this fall, with the completion of the new bridge scheduled for summer 2009.

The first phase of the project will include construction of a new bridge located about 200 feet north of the existing bridge, connecting a realigned Orange Road to State Route 315.  A temporary stop-controlled intersection will be built while plans for the proposed roundabout are finalized.  The second phase of the project will include construction of a single lane roundabout at the intersection of Orange, Carriage and State Route 315.  The new bridge will be built to accommodate the roundabout and no bridge modifications will be necessary for the second phase of the project.  A construction schedule for the roundabout will be announced when it becomes available.

For more information about the project, please visit www.OrangeRoadBridge.org.

April 29, 2008 – Center Village Road Reopened to Traffic

April 21, 2008 – Emergency Closure of Center Village Road Between Duncan Run Road and Green-Cook Road

Center Village Road was closed over the weekend after a vehicle struck the concrete bridge just west of Green-Cook Road and damaged the bridge railing.  The County Engineer is evaluating the necessary repairs and will provide an update on when the road will be reopened as soon as that information is available.  This bridge and the nearby steel beam bridge over Duncan Run were scheduled for reconstruction beginning in the spring of 2009.

March 19, 2008 – Red Bank Road Bridge over Hoover Reservoir Public Comment Requested

March 17, 2008 – River Road North of Radnor Road To Close March 24 for 2 months for Bridge Construction

March 17, 2008 – Wilson Road Closure Delayed until March 19

March 11, 2008 – Wilson Road Closed March 17-19 from 8:00am to 4:00pm

December 27, 2007 – Home Road Closure Extended Until January 25

December 14, 2007 – Patrick Road over Culver Creek Bridge Closed

December 3, 2007 – Cheshire Road/Alum Creek Causeway Repairs Now Underway

Repairs to the Cheshire Road causeway across Alum Creek Lake began today.  This project will involve reconstruction of the side slopes of the embankment to repair damage that was done during the winter rain storms of January 2005.  Strong winds combined with a near record high lake level caused significant erosion to both sides of the causeway.

Elite Excavating, of Mansfield, Ohio will work to remove portions of the eroded embankment and replace it with new rock slope protection.  Construction will take about 5 months to complete.  Traffic will be maintained on Cheshire Road using one-lane, two-way operation controlled by temporary traffic signals between the hours of 7:30am to 5:00pm.  Both lanes of travel will be open during non-work hours.  Additional information about the project is available here.

November 9, 2007 – Larcomb Road Now Open

Larcomb Road between Stover Road and Taylor Road in Scioto Township is now open.  Construction of the new bridge over Dun’s Run is now complete.  Crews will finish minor clean up tasks next week while maintaining traffic.  Click here for more information about this project.

October 15, 2007 – Home Road Closed Between Concord Road and S.R. 745 for 8 weeks

Home Road will be closed starting today while crews replace the large metal-plate pipe culvert about 1/2 mile east of Concord Road.  The closure will last approximately 8 weeks while the new 28-foot span precast concrete arch bridge spanning the North Branch of Eversole Run is built.  The new bridge will be significantly safer for motorists, providing modern guardrail and wider pavement and shoulders.  The detour uses Concord Road north to Moore Road east to S.R. 745 south, and vice versa.  For more information, visit the project information page by clicking here.

September 18, 2007 – Miller-Paul Road to Close Beginning September 24 for 60 days

Miller-Paul Road will be closed about 1/2 mile north of Woodtown Road beginning September 24.  The closure will last for about 60 days while crews replace a deficient, concrete slab bridge. The posted detour will be Woodtown Road to SR 605 to Trenton Road, and vice versa.

This project is being built by the Delaware County Engineer’s bridge crew. The estimated project cost including engineering, right-of-way purchases and construction is $110,000.  About $50,000 of that includes force-account construction performed by Delaware County crews. Contracts for the installation of the precast box culvert and guardrail provide the remainder of the necessary construction items.

For more information, visit the project information page by clicking here.

September 14, 2007 – Orange Road Bridge Closure Update

The County Engineer’s Office is currently evaluating the feasibility of repairs to the West Orange Road bridge over the Olentangy River. The current estimate of repairs that would be necessary to reopen the bridge at the current 3-ton load limit is about $300,000, which includes replacement of the existing steel beams that support the wood decking as well as repairs to the west abutment.  Construction would take about 3 months.

Delaware County is committed to the prudent use of taxpayer dollars and wants to make the most reasonable decision regarding such a large expenditure of road and bridge funds on a one-lane bridge with limited service life remaining and reduced load capacity. Plans for future reuse of the 109 year old bridge have been under discussion for some time and include ideas such as a dedicated pedestrian crossing at the current site or moving the bridge to a planned pedestrian facility at another location.

Right of way and construction plans for the new bridge to be built about 200 feet north of the existing bridge are currently under design.  The Engineer’s Office expects to start purchasing necessary right of way for the new bridge this fall.  Construction is planned to start later in 2008.

The Engineer’s Office appreciates the patience of all area residents inconvenienced by this closure.  Additional information will be released when it is available.  You can also find more information about the project, including exhibits shown at past open-houses at www.OrangeRoadBridge.org.

September 6, 2007: Green Meadows Drive North to Reopen September 21

Asphalt paving of the newly constructed portion of Green Meadows Drive north of Polaris Parkway is nearly complete.  In the next two weeks, crews will complete the grading, seeding, pavement markings and will finish the wiring of the new traffic signal at the intersection of relocated Green Meadows Drive and Polaris Parkway.

The Delaware County Engineer’s Office is administering this federally funded project to improve safety along the highly traveled Polaris Parkway by aligning north and south Green Meadows Drive at one traffic signal.  The former intersection of Green Meadows Drive North and Polaris Parkway will become a right in-right out only intersection allowing easy access to the businesses on Hornbeam Lane.  The new, relocated intersection of Green Meadows Drive will also help to reduce congestion on Polaris Parkway by moving the signalized intersection farther away from U.S. 23.

Click here to visit the Green Meadows Drive Relocation project information page for more details.

August 29, 2007:  Orange Road Bridge Closed Until Further Notice

Due to the discovery of recent deterioration in the bridge deck system during a regularly scheduled structural inspection, the West Orange Road bridge will be closed while the County Engineer evaluates the repair options.

The deterioration that was discovered during the inspection is related to the wood decking and the steel beams that support the deck timbers.  The Engineer is concerned about localized deck system failures and/or holes in the deck that could potentially damage vehicles crossing the bridge.  While the steel stringers that support the timber deck are not a main structural part of the bridge that could cause catastrophic failure of the bridge, any failure in a bridge member can potentially cause property damage and/or injury.

The safety of the motorists using the bridge is of paramount importance to the County Engineer’s Office, and for this reason the bridge will remain closed until the Engineer determines what repairs can be made.  Traffic will be detoured to Home Road.

Please monitor the website for additional details as they become available.

August 23, 2007:  Orange Road Bridge to be Closed for Inspection on August 28 from 9am to 4pm

The West Orange Road Bridge over the Olentangy River will be closed on August 28 from 9am to 4pm for a routine structural and safety inspection.  Inspectors will need to be able to access all areas of the bridge, making the short term closure of the bridge necessary.

The detour route will be U.S. 23 to Home Road to S.R. 315.  Local traffic may also access Home Road using Perry Road.

August 17, 2007:  Centerburg Road Now Open

The construction of the bridge on Centerburg Road about 1/4 mile west of the Knox County line is complete.  The Delaware County bridge crew finished construction on the bridge 3 weeks ahead of schedule due to dry summer weather that allowed construction to proceed with minimal delay.

The $160,000 project included the replacement of a structurally deficient concrete slab bridge built in the 1930’s.  The replacement structure is a precast reinforced concrete box culvert.  County crews performed about $90,000 of force-account (in-house) work on the project and subcontracted the remainder of the work by competitive bidding including the fabrication and installation of the precast culvert, asphalt paving, and installation of guardrail.

This is the 48th bridge built by the Delaware County Engineer’s bridge crew since 1998.

August 16, 2007:  Cheshire Road Closed East of Braumiller Road

Cheshire Road was closed August 13 for the installation of Delaware City utilities.  The closure will last 3 weeks.  The detour route is U.S. 23 to Peachblow Road to Lackey Old State Road.

Click here for more information about the closure:  https://www.delawareohio.net/news.php?doc_id=972

August 2, 2007:  US 36 to Close West of Section Line Road

U.S. 36 will close for 30 days on the west side of the Section Line Road intersection beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 6 during reconstruction and improvements to the intersection.

The posted detour will be U.S. 36 to Houk Road; Houk Road north to S.R. 37; S.R. 37 west to S.R. 257; S.R. 257 south to U.S. 36, or reverse.

The road is expected to be open on or before Sept. 4.

The US 36/South Section Line Intersection Improvements project is administered by ODOT and includes construction of turn lanes on US 36 as well as a new traffic signal.

For more information, click here for the ODOT District 6 news release:  https://www.dot.state.oh.us/dist6/news/DEL-US36.htm

July 17, 2007:  Centerburg Road Construction Update

Delaware County crews continue work on the reconstruction of the Centerburg Road bridge about 1/4 mile west of the Knox County line.  The project includes the replacement of an old concrete bridge with a new precast concrete box culvert.  In addition, about 500 feet of roadway will being reconstructed in order to improve the safety of the curve.

Delaware County crews will prepare the soil subgrade and the compacted aggregate base for a paving contractor who will place the asphalt pavement.  Finally, the guardrail subcontractor will install new guardrail over the box culvert and on the approaches to the bridge

Construction is on schedule to be completed in September of this year.  Click here for more information about the Centerburg Road bridge replacement project.

July 13, 2007:  Green Meadows Drive Construction Update

Reconstruction of Green Meadows Drive north of State Route 750 (Polaris Parkway) is progressing on schedule.  Green Meadows was closed on July 9 and will remain closed for approximately 30 days while the storm sewer work and the tie-in of the relocated road to existing Green Meadows (just north of Hornbeam Lane) is completed.

The relocation of Green Meadows Drive is a federally funded project to improve safety in this area and decrease traffic congestion.  After the project is completed this fall, Green Meadows Drive North will align with the existing Green Meadows Drive south of SR 750 at a new traffic light.  The former intersection of Green Meadows Drive North and SR 750 will become a right-in, right-out only access.

For more information, please click here to visit the the project information page:

July 12, 2007:  South Section Line Road Closure

South Section Line Road was closed on July 11 just south of US 36 as part of a project to improve the intersection with US 36. The closure will last 30 days.  The closure of South Section Line Road is necessary for the replacement of a culvert just south of the intersection and reconstruction of  pavement.   Traffic is being detoured from US 36 to SR 257 to US 42, and vice versa.

The US 36/South Section Line Intersection Improvements project is administered by ODOT and includes construction of turn lanes on US 36 as well as a new traffic signal.

For more information, click here for the ODOT District 6 news release:  https://www.dot.state.oh.us/dist6/news/DEL-US36.htm

June 1, 2007:  Sunbury Road Now Open

Construction at the intersection of Sunbury Road and Yankee Street, about 1/4 mile south of Harlem Road is now complete. Sunbury Road was re-opened to traffic on Friday, June 1.

Sunbury Road was originally closed on March 12 when the sudden collapse of a concrete retaining wall forced the closure of the road over 2 months before the road was intended to be closed for construction.  Delaware County’s highway contractor began work almost immediately after the road was closed and finished construction one week ahead of schedule.

The improvements to the intersection included reconstruction of about 500 feet of Sunbury Road to correct a sharp dip at the intersection, as well as the replacement of an old, deteriorated concrete and stone masonry culvert under Sunbury Road.  Minor drainage improvements and grading were also performed.

The County Engineer appreciates everyone’s patience while this project was underway.  For more information about the Sunbury & Yankee Street Intersection Improvements Project, click here.

May 29, 2007:  Justamere Road Construction Complete

Replacement of the bridge on Justamere Road about 1/4 mile east of Lane Road is complete.  The road is open to traffic while crews finish minor grading work and incidental construction items.  Click here for additional details about this project.

May 22, 2007:  Centerburg Road Bridge Construction Notice – Road to Close on June 18 for 90 days

Construction on the Centerburg Road bridge located about 1/4 mile west of the Knox County line will begin on June 18 and last through mid-September.  The road will be closed to through traffic while the Delaware County Highway Department crews replace the existing concrete slab bridge with a new precast concrete box culvert.  Reconstruction of the roadway approaches to the bridge will also be done to improve the safety of the curve.

Traffic will be detoured on Condit Road to State Route 3/36 for the duration of the project.  For more information, visit the project information page by clicking here.

May 11, 2007:  Justamere Road Bridge Construction Update

Construction of a new box culvert bridge on Justamere Road about 1/4 mile east of Lane Road is nearing completion.  The box culvert was installed on May 4 and replaces a narrow, structurally deficient steel beam bridge that was originally built more than 70 years ago.

The new bridge will provide numerous benefits for area residents.  The old bridge had a posted weight limit of 6 tons as well as a narrow roadway, which prevented garbage trucks, delivery trucks and farm implements from crossing the bridge.  The new bridge is designed with nearly twice the roadway width of the old bridge and will provide for safer and more efficient travel on Justamere Road.

Construction is currently on schedule to be completed in early June. For more information about this project, please click here.

April 4, 2007:  Construction Update for Sunbury Road and Yankee Street Culvert – Road to Reopen in mid-June

Construction has been underway for about 2 weeks on the replacement of a culvert at the intersection of Sunbury Road and Yankee Street.  The County Engineer estimates that the work will be complete and the road will be re-opened to traffic in mid-June.

Utility relocation had not yet been completed at the time of the sudden collapse of the retaining wall on the east end of the old culvert, which forced the early closure of Sunbury Road.  Minor delays have resulted while utility contractors finish the relocation of their underground pipes and cables while the county’s highway contractor (Complete General Construction of Columbus, Ohio) continues work on the construction of the culvert.

This project includes the replacement of the old and deteriorated structure with a new reinforced concrete pipe culvert with concrete retaining walls.  The safety of the intersection will also be improved by reconstructing the pavement near the intersection to lessen the steepness of the sag in Sunbury Road at the intersection.  Additional guardrail and other minor drainage improvements will complete the project.  For more information, please visit the project information page by clicking here.

March 12, 2007:  Emergency Closure of Sunbury Road at Yankee Street (1/4 mile south of Harlem Road)

Sunbury Road is now closed between Harlem Road and Red Bank Road, on the east side of Hoover Reservoir. The emergency closure was forced due to sudden collapse of a concrete retaining wall of a culvert near Yankee Street. The collapsed retaining wall has destabilized the road embankment over the culvert and thus traffic must be detoured. The posted detour route uses Center Village Road to Harlem Road.

The culvert was being planned for replacement as part of improvements to the intersection of Sunbury Road and Yankee Street, beginning in May 2007. The project schedule will be advanced in an effort to expedite the completion of the culvert and road work at the earliest date possible. Once a reconstruction schedule becomes available, the County Engineer will post that information. Please click here for more information about the project.

February 15, 2007:  Winter storm closes Delaware County government offices

A level 3 snow emergency forced the closure of the County Engineer’s office on Wednesday, February 15.  Key personnel still reported to work to continue snow clearing operations.  The snow emergency was cancelled by Thursday.

January 25, 2007:  Center Village bridge now open

Reconstruction of the Center Village Road bridge over Duncan Run is complete.  Crews replaced the damaged superstructure with new steel beams and a concrete deck.  New guardrail was also installed for improved safety.  Click here for more information.

2006 News Headlines

Orange Road Bridge open house #2  (updated 12/18/06)

The County Engineer hosted the second open house for the Orange Road bridge project on December 13.  Nearly 80 people attended the meeting and offered their thoughts on the preferred alternative.

The project staff is continuing to perform engineering studies and will be coordinating with various agencies working toward completion of construction plans for the project.

Please visit the Orange Road bridge project website for more details:  www.OrangeRoadBridge.org

Tussic Street Road construction update:  (updated 12/1/06)

Major roadway construction on Tussic Street Road is complete.  All pavement has been placed and all exposed soil has been temporarily seeded for the winter.  Some minor finish work will be performed in the spring including final grading and seeding and permanent pavement markings.  Repairs to portions of the sidewalk that were damaged by utility construction will be completed in the spring as well.

The improvement of Tussic Street Road is a major improvement for the residents of Genoa Township.  Delaware County appreciates everyone’s cooperation while this major construction project was underway.  Click here for more information.

Hyatts Road Bridge Construction update:  (updated 12/1/06)

The replacement of a structurally deficient bridge on Hyatts Road about 3/4 mile east of South Section Line Road is complete and the road is open to traffic.  The replacement bridge is a precast, reinforced concrete box culvert.

The widening of Hyatts Road just west of the bridge was coordinated with this project.  The roadway work associated with the Scioto Chase development, being performed and paid for by the site developer, was done simultaneously with the county bridge construction to minimize the inconvenience to motorists by eliminating the need for a separate road closure for each project.  Click here for more information.

South Section Line Road Reconstruction update:  (updated 11/15/06)

Construction on South Section Line Road is complete.  The work included reconstruction of the road base with a mixture of high carbon fly ash, which is a byproduct of the coal burning process.  Several different mixtures of fly ash, kiln dust, lime and other chemicals will be used on the project, and test sections established to monitor the performance of each mixture.  The Ohio State University, Coal Combustion Product Extension will monitor the performance of the pavement.

The use of coal combustion byproducts has been popular for many years, but rarely is there an opportunity to test the various combinations of products on the same road.  The research will help identify which process is the most effective and economical method of reconstructing the base of roads with heavy truck traffic, such as South Section Line Road.  It is also a safe and environmentally sound way to dispose of byproducts of coal combustion.

This project was a cooperative effort with the Ohio State University, the Ohio Coal Development Office and the Asphalt Recycling and Reclaiming Association.  Click here for more information.

2006 Road Improvement Program construction update:  (updated 11/15/06)

Delaware County’s annual pavement resurfacing and maintenance program is complete.  Over $5 million dollars was spent to provide motorists with safe and smooth pavement on county and township roads.  Good pavement surfaces can increase vehicle safety by providing pothole free surfaces and higher skid resistance than deteriorated pavement surfaces.

Some of the newer technologies used this year’s resurfacing program include the “SAMI-seal” which stands for StressAbsorbing Membrane Interlayer.  It consists of a polymer membrane inlaid with a coat of rubberized liquid asphalt material.  It helps to minimize cracking in asphalt surface and minimizes water infiltration into underlying asphalt and base courses, which is one of the primary causes of pavement failures.  Click here for more information on the 2006 Road Improvement Program.

Cheshire Road Bridge over Little Walnut Creek update:  (updated 8/16/06)

Construction on the replacement bridge is complete.  Crews erected the new prestressed concrete box beams in mid-June, which span 100 feet over the creek.  Construction was completed on the remaining bridge and roadway work in late-July.  The new bridge is 40 feet wide which will safely accommodate two 12 foot lanes and 8 foot shoulders.  The old bridge was about 20 feet wide and was in very poor structural condition.

This project is the Delaware County Engineer’s first design-build contract.  Design-build contracts have been used for many years, but have only recently been allowed by Ohio law for counties on road and bridge projects.  The contract combines the design and construction elements of a project into a single contract, where the lowest and best bidder is awarded a contract to design and construct the project based on a set of very specific guidelines.  The County Engineer estimates that this method saved as much as 10% and 6 months compared to the traditional design-bid-build project delivery method on this project.  Click here for more project information.

Thoas Road Bridges update:  (updated 8/16/06)

Construction on the Thomas Road bridges is complete.  Complete General Construction of Columbus, Ohio installed the three new box culverts with some minor roadway work.  These bridges replaced three narrow and deteriorated concrete slab bridges originally built in the 1930’s.

The total project cost for the Thomas Road Bridges project is approximately $500,000.  Delaware County received a State Capital Improvements Program grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission for up to $290,000.  Click here for more project information.

Sunbury Road Bridge construction update:  (updated 6/12/06)

Construction on the Sunbury Road bridge over Hoover Reservoir is complete.  Since structural steel arrived on site on May 15, crews worked long hours to complete the rehabilitation of the 50 year old bridge.

The 340 foot span over Hoover Reservoir was reopened to traffic on June 9.  Some minor finish work will be done with traffic maintained on the bridge.

Delaware County appreciates everyone’s patience while this very important bridge was closed.

Click here for more project information.

Sawmill Parkway Extension update:  (updated 8/16/06)

Construction is complete on the portion of Sawmill Parkway north of Home Road.  The entrances to Olentangy Liberty High School are now located at the two new traffic signals on Sawmill Parkway, providing a safe entrance and exit for faculty, staff, students, parents and busses.

Please visit the Sawmill Parkway extension project website for more details: www.SawmillParkway.org