By Rick Palsgrove
Eastside Editor
The Ohio Public Works Commission recently approved nearly $30 million in funding for 20 projects in 14 Franklin County communities, including Canal Winchester’s Gender Road project.
The city of Canal Winchester will receive $1 million in State Capital Improvements Program funds to use toward the $1.2 million Gender Road lmprovements Phase 5.
“We are receiving a $250,000 grant and a $750,000 loan,” said Canal Winchester Director of Public Service Matt Peoples. “The remainder of the project will be paid for from the general fund.”
Peoples said the improvements include adding turn lanes to northbound Gender Road at both the Winchester Boulevard and Canal Street intersections, with signal upgrades at the GenderRoad/Canal Street intersection as well as separating portions of the existing bikepath from the Gender Road pavement section.
“The improvements are being made to provide for a more efficient flow of the increased traffic we are seeing along the Gender Road corridor,” said Peoples. “We expect to start in spring 2021 and be complete buy the end of the year.”
According to the OPWC, the State Capital Improvements Program provides financial assistance to local communities for the improvement of basic infrastructure systems.
“The Ohio Public Works Commission continues to be an integral component in financing road and bridge projects throughout Franklin County,” said Franklin County Engineer Cornell Robertson.
Projects eligible for funding include improvements to roads, bridges, culverts, water supply systems, wastewater systems, storm water collection systems and solid waste disposal facilities.
