UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Perrysburg expands its Dixie Hwy. intersection

Engineer suggests using other routes

Dixie Highway’s congested intersection with Eckel Junction Road will get a $2.25 million facelift starting next week that will feature five new turn lanes and the lengthening of four others.

Dixie Highway’s congested intersection with Eckel Junction Road will get a $2.25 million facelift starting next week that will feature five new turn lanes and the lengthening of four others.

Perrysburg will foot most of the bill, but Costco, which plans to build a store at the corner, will contribute $396,000 and Mercy Health System, which has an emergency room and diagnostic center on Dixie south of I-475/​U.S. 23, will chip in $350,000.

No detours are planned, but lane closings associated with the construction will make traffic tie-ups worse. City Engineer Doug Dariano said those who can use alternative routes — like South Boundary Street or Roachton Road instead of Eckel Junction, and State Rt. 199 instead of Dixie — should do so.

“It is one of our busiest intersections,” Mr. Dariano said. “We’re going to build under traffic. There will be no posted detours, but we strongly encourage people to seek other routes because it will be busy out there.”

At least one lane will be maintained in each direction at all times, he said, and additional lanes will be open when possible.

“People that aren’t familiar with the area will have to stay on the route, but people who live here will figure out the best way around,” Mr. Dariano said.

Dixie is part of State Rt. 25, but within Perrysburg’s limits is a city street.

Miller Brothers Construction Inc. of Archold is scheduled to start work July 14 and finish in mid-December.

Planners expect some congestion to persist at the intersection afterward.

Costco plans to open its 154,000 square-foot store at the intersection’s southeast corner during the fall of 2015. The city had planned most of the intersection improvements even without Costco, but the retailer has agreed to pay for an extra turn lane to support its development.

The possibility that the store might open while the construction was still under way had worried some nearby residents and businesses before officials determined the road work would be done this year.

“We’re looking forward at getting it upgraded safer and upgraded to get more traffic through the intersection,” Mr. Dariano said.

Here’s what is planned at the Dixie/​Eckel Junction intersection:

● Add a 325 foot-long right-turn lane on westbound Eckel Junction as it approaches Dixie.

● Add a lane on eastbound Eckel Junction west of the intersection.

● Add a 350 foot-long right-turn lane on southbound Dixie as it approaches the intersection.

● Add a 500 foot-long left-turn lane on northbound Dixie as it approaches the intersection.

● Add a 350 foot-long second left-turn lane on westbound Eckel Junction as it approaches the intersection.

The lanes to be lengthened are:

● An eastbound left-turn lane on Eckel Junction is to be extended to 375 feet from its current 250 feet.

● An eastbound right-turn lane on Eckel Junction is to be lengthened from 250 to 525 feet.

● A westbound left-turn lane on Eckel Junction is to be lengthened from 325 to 350 feet.

● A southbound left-turn lane on State Rt. 25 is to be lengthened from 235 to 350 feet.

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.