This morning marked a “great day” for the city of Mansfield. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced the $68 million reconstruction project aimed at improving and replacing the strip of Route 30 starting from the convergence of SR 309 and SR 30, all the way to the Fifth Street interchange.
Allen C. Biehl, District Deputy Director, announced the project on the Home Road and Route 309 overpass at 10 a.m.
The approximately five mile stretch of highway will start improving by way of construction in 2016 or 2017. It is projected to take at least two years to complete construction. Biehl said it was too early to tell if there will be detours at the time of construction.
“How we divvy up the construction [along the highway] is something to be determined still. If any section is to be closed down completely, we will likely do that when traffic is minimal or during night time hours,” said Biehl.
This particular stretch of highway was constructed in the fifties. According to Biehl, the soil underneath the asphalt is what is failing at the moment. “That’s why,” he explained, “you see road construction along 30 so often. They’ve just been patching things up.”
State Representative Mark Romanchuk and Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker also attended the event and spoke briefly.
Theaker said, “This is a great day, it really is. The sun is out for us and the weather is nice. But it’s even a better day because we get to announce Mansfield is going to be getting Route 30 worked on and redone.”
Fred Seling, Principal of Engineering Associates, spoke about the public’s involvement. His goal is to get the community involved as much as possible by including the public in “meetings and keeping continuous contact.”
“We want as much input as we can get. I want to emphasize that this is not lip service. Public involvement is one of the most important aspects [in this project,]” asserted Seling.
ODOT began planning this project in May 2013. The official location of construction begins at the split of SR 309 and ending at the Fifth Avenue interchange. Since the project is still in it’s infancy, only initial planning has started and actual construction is projected to begin in the construction season of 2016.
Funding will come from ODOT and federal agencies. Nearly 80 percent will come from the federal government, which eased the mind of Theaker.
“This will generate income tax monies for the city to use,” said Theaker with optimism.
Although initial projections set the cost at $34 million, this figure doubled since then. Biehl stated that this number is fluid, however. “The cost will most likely change as the planning of the project progresses,” Biehl said.
For more information about the project, visit ODOT’s website and join their email list. The emails will send notifications on traffic updates, road closings, and construction dates. Also, call 419-281-0513 for more information.
