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Overpass would take much cooperation
(by Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer - June 18, 2009)
Columbus Public Service Director Mark Kelsey visited the June 17 Westland Area Commission meeting and explained the process for getting an overpass on Hilliard Rome Road as a way to bypass the railroad crossing.
“An overpass is needed to alleviate the traffic problems,” he said, recognizing the efforts that commission member Jo Ellen Locke has been doing to draw attention to the long traffic backups when a train is passing through or stops and blocks the crossing for extended periods.
Kelsey explained that the city, county and state would have to work together.
“They would have to study the issue and determine who would be able to fix it,” he said. “They would have to determine what would be done and then put it on the agenda. I can tell you that may be years away, but a lot of government officials need to get together to get something done.”
Locke has been encouraging her fellow members and the community to notify the county engineer’s office and the Ohio Department of Transportation of the problems they experience at the crossing.
Commission Chairman Mike McKay said a zoning request will be discussed at a Zoning Committee meeting July 15 that precedes the regular meeting at Doctors Hospital. The first floor meeting room where the commission generally meets is in use that evening so the commission will gather in a lower level meeting room at 7 p.m.
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