Work expected to tie up traffic on 2 roadways

12/27/2006

Motorists should avoid sections of two major roadways in Oregon for the next five months if they don't want to deal with navigating around construction barrels or potential delays.

Sanitary sewers will be installed in front of homes in two areas of the city beginning next week. Both projects are expected to be complete on May 31, Public Service Director Paul Roman said.

The sewers will be installed along Coy Road between Navarre Avenue and the south corporation limit, and along 800 feet of Stadium Road, beginning roughly 600 feet south of Pickle Road.

The Coy Road project was mandated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency because high bacteria counts were found in the city's storm-water system, Mr. Roman said.

He said that although that section of Coy does have some pockets of sewers, more need to be installed to fill in the gaps. "It's extending sewers already there at the intersections north or south to fill in the areas," he said.

But because the project was required by the Ohio EPA, residents will see a price break on their assessments because city officials sought grants to help them pay for the costs.

There are 54 parcels on Coy that officials had said would be assessed $115 per front foot for the $750,000 project. But because the project will be subsidized by a $219,000 grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission, Mayor Marge Brown has estimated that the $115 price will drop to about $82 per front foot.

The city has been ready to go with the project since last year but held off on seeking bids until the grant was received.

Mr. Roman said once installed, the sewers are expected to dramatically improve the city's storm system in that area, which is 98 percent developed.

"People are never thrilled with being assessed, nor are they thrilled about their yard being ripped up, but they understand it," he said.

The Stadium Road project will occur on behalf of residents who requested that sanitary sewers be installed, Mr. Roman said.

That project is expected to cost $113,000, and no grant funding will be applied to offset the assessment costs to residents.

ER Zeiler Excavating Inc. of Temperance was chosen as contractor for both projects, which were bid together to get the best price. Two crews will work on both projects simultaneously, but each will be assessed separately, Mr. Roman said.

At least one lane of traffic will be maintained in both areas for the course of the project, officials said. During nonworking hours, the roadway will be opened to two-way traffic.

"Coy is going to be very busy, and we're going to try to encourage people any way we can to avoid using Coy Road [during construction]," Mr. Roman said. "Moving a construction vehicle in and out of a work zone is going to cause traffic to back up."

Access driveways will be available at all times except when construction is occurring in front of the drive.

Officials also said that because of the nature of the project, interruption may occur to residents' electric, telephone, gas, cable, and water service.