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

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 – 2024

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 cost of construction 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.