By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
The state is moving forward, though slowly, with plans to install a sound wall along U.S. Route 33 in Canal Winchester.
Engineer Adam Voris said the project is expected to begin the design phase in fiscal year 2017, which begins in the summer of 2016.
Voris said the state department of transportation will send out surveys to residents asking for their input on the color and texture of the inside of the wall facing properties and is considering installing a clear wall near a daycare center.
“This is an ODOT project initiated by residents in the neighborhood,” Voris, who expected the state to conduct at least one public hearing in regard to the noise-reducing endeavor.
Gender Road project
Voris and Public Works Director Matt Peoples discussed Phase IV of the Gender Road project and the decision to hold off on resubmitting the Ohio Public Works Commission project at this time.
Peoples said the city decided not to rush into the application and he added Madison Township representatives expressed concerns over the Groveport/Gender road intersection and the upcoming BrewDog development just north of the area.
“With the lights we’ve added in the area, it may be time an upgrade,” Peoples said. “We’re going to meet with them (township) a little more and take that into consideration as we move forward with the project.”
In the city’s previous ODOT Gender Road project submission, the city did not score well in a couple of areas, including a relatively low number of accidents.
“There’s not a big history of accidents at the site,” said Voris, “but anyone who goes through there at 5 p.m. on a Friday sees the need for improvements. The score was decent and in seven out of 10 years it would have been funded, but it was really competitive this year. We could not significantly increase the score with changes.”
However, should the township choose to collaborate on the project with the city, Voris said the score could increase.
