Main Street improvement project update: Water main replacement work is done

MANSFIELD — Jodie Perry admitted the first phase of the Main Street Corridor Improvement Project has taken longer than anyone expected — or wanted.

But the Mansfield mayor said the overall $19.3 million project remains on schedule to be completed in October 2026 — and one of the toughest parts of the project is nearly done.

“I understand the frustration and just ask people to be patient and show some grace to the work crews,” Perry said. “In general, things should now be getting more open.”

The mayor and officials with Downtown Mansfield Inc. will update residents and business owners July 30 at DMI’s offices at 128 N. Main St. during a public meeting from 3 to 5 p.m.

“Mark your calendars and plan to join us to learn more about what’s already been done, and what’s coming next,” DMI said in a press release Monday.

“Following a brief update on the project, representatives from the city, Downtown Mansfield, and Kokosing (the project’s contractor) will be available to answer your questions.”

Phase one, which began Feb. 24, replaced century-old water mains from Fifth Street to First Street, work that encompassed nearly the length of the entire project. During a meeting at DMI on April 10, officials said they hoped that work would take about three months.

Three months has become five.

A wet spring and the discovery of unexpected utility lines, including gas lines, that were not included on local infrastructure maps, slowed that water main replacement work and created utility problems for businesses along the corridor.

The mayor said the first few months of the project also ran into a perfect storm around the community, including city crews responding to water main breaks in other parts of the city, which have led to additional road closures.

“Road closed” was a sign of the times no one wanted to see around the city, not just on Main Street.

Adding to the construction issues was the launch of the water main replacement project, the normal summer street resurfacing program — and a complete, $21 million ODOT resurfacing project of Ohio 13 on the city’s south side.

“When talking about water main breaks and other emergency infrastructure issues, we don’t have control over that,” Perry said. “Our crews have been great at responding.

“It’s been difficult for anyone to keep up with them the last couple of months.”

The Main Street project, its closures and general disruptions impacted businesses along the corridor to the point the city enacted a $50,000 grant program that will award $2,500 grants to 20 different businesses on Main Street.

The businesses must demonstrate a negative financial impact since the project began.

Perry said Monday that the water main work is finally done.

City engineer Bob Bianchi said the new water mains along the corridor are now “completely tied in.”

According to DMI, in the last two weeks, lighting installation has begun between Fourth and Sixth streets. New storm drainage was installed between Park Avenue and Fifth Street, and old sidewalks and curbs were demolished between Fifth and Six streets.

In the next two weeks, new curbs will begin to be installed between Fifth and Sixth streets; additional storm drainage will be installed between Park Avenue and First Street and additional lighting will be installed between Fourth and Fifth streets.

DMI said one lane of Main Street will be open from First to Sixth streets, except for intermittent daytime closures between Fourth and First streets.

Residents can sign up for text alerts or check the traffic impact map for day-to-day closure notices.

The mayor said the return of parking along Main Street is an immediate goal.

“We had a good meeting with the contractors and said we need to get parking reopened,” Perry said.