By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
Spring is construction season in Canal Winchester with the upcoming $2.4 million Phase IV Gender Road improvement project.
According to Construction Services Administrator Bill Sims, eight sets of plans were taken out by interested contractors with bid opening set for March 2. He told Canal Winchester City Council at its Feb. 20 work session he plans to have a contract recommendation in hand for the March 19 council meeting.
“I anticipate work on Gender Road to start around the first of May,” Sims said.
Substantial completion is projected for October with a final sign-off in November.
The fourth phase—which received grant and loan funding through the Ohio Public Works Commission—includes improvements from the Gender and Groveport Road intersection north to the railroad crossing. Work on Groveport Road extends several hundred feet west of Gender Road to several hundred feet east of the intersection.
Gender Road improvements include construction of an additional southbound travel lane through the intersection. A dedicated right turn lane to Gender for westbound Groveport Road traffic and a second left turn lane to Gender for eastbound Groveport Road are also included in the project.
Improvements will also be made to traffic signals at the Gender/Groveport intersection and to the Gender/Walnut intersection. Street lighting will be added at the intersections and on Gender Road between Groveport Road and Walnut Street.
In a cooperative effort with the I&O Railroad, the Gender Road at-grade rail crossing will be reconstructed.
According to Sims, the railroad is paying for half of the crossing construction costs.
“The biggest impact of the project on traffic will be the railroad crossing,” said Sims, “and will necessitate closing Gender Road temporarily over a weekend for the work. Work on the railroad crossing would not start until after school is out.”
Detour routes will be posted and advance notice will be posted prior to the four-day closure of Gender Road between Walnut Street and Canal Street.
Gender Road and Groveport Road will be maintained in both directions throughout the project, except for the temporary closure for work on the railroad crossing. There will be multiple lane shifts during the course of the project to accommodate the roadway and utility construction work zones. During the work day, there will be single lane closures.
Access to driveways will be maintained with limited interruptions during physical work in the driveway limits.
Utility relocation work is currently underway in preparation for the project.
Storm sewer work and waterline replacements are also included in the project, as is extension of the Groveport Road bike path west from Gender Road to just short of the city limit.
