The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) held a public meeting recently in Bellville to inform the public of proposed improvements to 0.7 miles of State Route 97 in the Bellville area. The improvements will concern the area from just south of Alexander Road to just north of Kocheiser Road.
The meeting was held open house style, giving the community a chance to speak directly to ODOT representatives and engineers as well as view improvement plans.
The proposed improvement project will include reconstruction from two lanes to three lanes by the addition of a center two-way left turn lane and partial widening on both sides of the existing pavement.
Other improvements include the addition of curb and gutter with new storm sewers, new concrete driveway aprons, realignment of Kocheiser Road at State Route 97 intersection to a “T” intersection, management of access points along State Route 97 corridor, and widening of intersection radii at Kocheiser Road, Interstate 71 ramps, Comfort Plaza Drive, and Alexander Road.
Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2016.
Ryan Carpenter, ODOT Consultant Engineering Section, stated the entire project is expected to take approximately four to five months
During construction, two-way traffic will be maintained on State Route 97.
However, during the improvements to Kocheiser Road and Alexander Road, closures and detours will be necessary. These closures are expected to last approximately two to three weeks, according to Matt Hasel, Project Engineer for K. E. McCartney & Associates Inc., who is involved in plan development for the improvement project.
Bellville area resident Barb McCammon noted that the improvements were needed for safety, “We’ve almost been hit a couple of times.”
McCammon spoke with ODOT representatives and looked over the plans at the meeting Thursday evening. She approved of the project, “It looks good to me.”
Safety is the main reason for the improvement. A 2010 safety study identified a section of State Route 97 within the village of Bellville as a high crash roadway segment, with the majority of crashes occurring between Kocheiser Road and Alexander Road. The primary crash types identified were rear end, fixed object, and left turn.
The proposed improvements would relieve congestion and improve traffic flow in the area, as well as reduce the frequency of crashes, according to information provided by ODOT.
“The department invests a lot of money in safety,” said Christine Myers, ODOT Public Information Officer. “In fact, the department invests over 100 million dollars a year in safety. We take it very seriously. The state of Ohio, across the nation, we spend the third most in safety funds because we do take the motoring public’s safety very seriously.”
The expected cost of the project is $2 million. There is no cost to the property owners along the corridor.
The acquisition of both temporary and permanent right-of-way will be required for the proposed project and may be expected to begin in the coming year after ODOT approval. Plans will be finalized and submitted to ODOT following a review of public input.
Written comments regarding the project may be sent to ODOT District 3, 906 Clark Avenue, Ashland, OH 44805-1989.
Those with questions are encouraged to contact Mac Vance in the ODOT District 3 Planning Department at 1-800-276-4188 ext. 207-7055 or by email at Mac.Vance@dot.state.oh.us.
“We’re looking forward to the completion of this project,” said Village of Bellville Mayor Darrell Banks, “Along with the recent zoning code changes, we believe it’s going to be a very positive thing for Bellville. It will make it safer for people to get in and out of the businesses. We’re looking forward to bringing in more jobs and businesses.”
“We believe it’s going to be a very positive thing for Bellville. It will make it safer for people to get in and out of the businesses. We’re looking forward to bringing in more jobs and businesses,” said Mayor Darrell Banks.
