DEL-TR114-0.93 (PID 115566) Orange Road Railroad Grade Separation

Delaware County Roads Project Receives $21 Million Federal Grant

DELAWARE, Ohio — Delaware County has received its largest ever grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The $21 million grant, announced on Jan. 8, will help fund reconstruction of a portion of East Orange Road. The rebuilt road will run under railroad tracks used by Norfolk Southern and CSX trains. The East Orange Road Underpass project, managed by the Delaware County Engineer’s Office and the county’s Transportation Improvement District (TID), has a total estimated cost of $43 million. Construction will begin in 2027 or 2028 and should be completed in 2029.

Delaware County Engineer Chris Bauserman said, “This is a great example of a multi-jurisdictional cooperative effort, with many partners working together to complete a significant regional project.”

Orange Road is one of the most heavily traveled east-west roads in the county. The railroad tracks run across Orange Road between Green Meadows Drive and Blue Holly Drive. About 10,000 vehicles and 30 trains transit the crossing each day. Additionally, traffic stoppages due to train crossings impact response routes for emergency-service and law-enforcement vehicles.

The project will lower East Orange Road by approximately 22 feet beneath the rail overpass and will accommodate the installation of a deep storm sewer along Orange Road. A shared-use path also will be constructed.

Project funding, noted Bauserman, is the result of many different organizations coming together, including the Ohio Rail Development Commission, which submitted the application on behalf of the Delaware County TID. The balance of funding will come from Delaware County’s general fund, fees generated by local Tax-Increment Financing districts, and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

“Special thanks must go to Governor Mike DeWine and to the Ohio Rail Development Commission’s executive director Matt Dietrich,” said Bauseman, “along with former Ohio Department of Transportation director Jack Marchbanks, current director Pamela Boratyn, and all of the state and federal legislators who supported this application.”

Design engineering is nearly complete and the Engineer’s Office expects to complete right-of-way acquisitions later in 2025. Once construction begins in 2027 or 2028, a temporary road will route vehicular traffic along the south side of the existing road. The bike trail currently there will be closed for the duration of the project.

Public Meeting – April 10, 2024

The County Engineer and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will be hosting a public information meeting at the Orange Township Hall, 1680 East Orange Road, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035 on April 10, 2024 from 4pm to 7pm to provide information about the project.   County Engineer and ODOT staff will be there to answer questions and provide information about the project.  The meeting will be in open house format.  There is no scheduled presentation and you are free to come and go as your schedule allows.

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by ODOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 14, 2020, and executed by FHWA and ODOT.

Project Need

Orange Road is a heavily traveled east-west corridor in southern Delaware County that provides direct access to three Olentangy schools. Routine train traffic temporarily prevents vehicular traffic from traveling from one side of the tracks to the other. Temporary rail blockages increase Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response times.  Constructing a roadway underpass eliminates the at-grade crossing and delays to the traveling public and EMS response times.

Project Limits

Lowering Orange Road under the railroad tracks will extend between the Green Meadows Drive and Blue Holly Drive intersections. A deep storm sewer will also be constructed along Orange Road from Blue Holly Drive to just west of South Old State Road.

Project Details

  • Orange Road will be lowered approximately 22’ to provide adequate roadway clearance below the new rail bridges.
  • Orange Road will have four lanes, a shared use path, and sidewalk under the new rail bridges that extend from Green Meadows Drive to Blue Holly Drive.
  • Stormwater from the new underpass requires a 3,500’ long deep storm sewer that will be placed on the north side of Orange Road, ultimately discharging into the existing pond in the southwest quadrant at South Old State Road.
  • The existing bike trail along the railroad tracks will be closed throughout construction due to heavy construction equipment work limits and activities.
  • Utilities along the railroad tracks and Orange Road will be relocated.

Proposed Project Schedule and Potential Closures

Design Engineering: 2020 – 2025

Right-of-Way Acquisition: 2025

Construction: 2026 – 2029

During construction, vehicular traffic on Orange Road will generally be maintained by a temporary road runaround built on the south side of Orange Road. A short-term detour of Orange Road traffic may be needed at specific times due to railroad related construction. Norfolk Southern and CSX train traffic cannot be interrupted and requires temporary track work to maintain rail operations during construction.

Estimated Project Cost

The current project cost is approximately $43 million dollars.  Funding is through DCEO and ODOT.

Please contact Ryan J. Mraz, DCEO Project Manager, at rmraz@co.delaware.oh.us with any questions or comments.  Comments must be received by July 1, 2024 to allow us to consider your comments and incorporate your ideas into the design of the project.