Summer will be busy with road construction
Service director says city will keep residents updated
Construction on Route 94 is already in full swing. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
WADSWORTH – With spring finally here, road construction has already begun within the city, but work on Wadsworth’s roads will be even more in full swing by this summer.
Service Director Robert Patrick estimates that the repaving of state Route 261 will take place in June and July.
The Ohio Department of Transportation will be managing the project and paying for the majority of it, but Wadsworth will pay for a portion of the $1 million project out of the city’s street improvement fund.
“It will be very similar to the paving of state Route 94 two years ago,” Patrick said. “They will begin by milling off the old asphalt, performing base repairs, then applying the intermediate asphalt layer, then the final asphalt, then striping.”
The improvements will take place from High Street to Medina Line Road.
Work on Route 94 has already begun and will continue likely through the rest of construction season.
“The contractor had an early start due to the nice spring and has made great progress,” Patrick said. “They are scheduled to be completed before the end of the construction season. We will keep our fingers crossed that the weather will cooperate this year as it did last year.”
Patrick said he realizes construction on two main arteries through the city will have an impact on motorists.
“But that is a sign of progress and I believe most understand the long-term benefit,” Patrick said. “It will be a short-term inconvenience and I believe our residents understand that. We had very few complaints during the Route 94 paving project two years ago.”
Patrick said that just as the city is doing with the state Route 94 widening project, they will send out notifications of progress through local and social media regarding the Route 261 project so motorists know what to expect.
Work on the intersection of Route 94 and Great Oaks Trail is expected to take place in May or June and Patrick said this is the period of construction that could cause the most inconveniences for motorists.
Patrick said the city will stay in constant communication with businesses in the area and said the contractor knows to make sure there is access to businesses in and around that intersection during construction. He added that motorists who aren’t traveling to businesses in that immediate area have the option of alternate routes. Motorists traveling east on Great Oaks Trail can turn north on to Freedom Drive and access Route 94 via Smokerise Drive. Motorists also have the option of turning east on Park Center Drive and taking Laverne Drive to the eastern portion of Smokerise Drive.
Anyone who wants to stay up to date on the progress of construction can log on to the city’s website, www.wadsworthcity.com, and sign up for a special notification system to receive emails or text messages about any Route 94 construction updates.
Assistant Service Director Harry Stark is in communication with ODOT each week to receive updated information. Information can also be found on the city’s Facebook page.
Service Director Robert Patrick estimates that the repaving of state Route 261 will take place in June and July.
The Ohio Department of Transportation will be managing the project and paying for the majority of it, but Wadsworth will pay for a portion of the $1 million project out of the city’s street improvement fund.
“It will be very similar to the paving of state Route 94 two years ago,” Patrick said. “They will begin by milling off the old asphalt, performing base repairs, then applying the intermediate asphalt layer, then the final asphalt, then striping.”
The improvements will take place from High Street to Medina Line Road.
Work on Route 94 has already begun and will continue likely through the rest of construction season.
“The contractor had an early start due to the nice spring and has made great progress,” Patrick said. “They are scheduled to be completed before the end of the construction season. We will keep our fingers crossed that the weather will cooperate this year as it did last year.”
Patrick said he realizes construction on two main arteries through the city will have an impact on motorists.
“But that is a sign of progress and I believe most understand the long-term benefit,” Patrick said. “It will be a short-term inconvenience and I believe our residents understand that. We had very few complaints during the Route 94 paving project two years ago.”
Patrick said that just as the city is doing with the state Route 94 widening project, they will send out notifications of progress through local and social media regarding the Route 261 project so motorists know what to expect.
Work on the intersection of Route 94 and Great Oaks Trail is expected to take place in May or June and Patrick said this is the period of construction that could cause the most inconveniences for motorists.
Patrick said the city will stay in constant communication with businesses in the area and said the contractor knows to make sure there is access to businesses in and around that intersection during construction. He added that motorists who aren’t traveling to businesses in that immediate area have the option of alternate routes. Motorists traveling east on Great Oaks Trail can turn north on to Freedom Drive and access Route 94 via Smokerise Drive. Motorists also have the option of turning east on Park Center Drive and taking Laverne Drive to the eastern portion of Smokerise Drive.
Anyone who wants to stay up to date on the progress of construction can log on to the city’s website, www.wadsworthcity.com, and sign up for a special notification system to receive emails or text messages about any Route 94 construction updates.
Assistant Service Director Harry Stark is in communication with ODOT each week to receive updated information. Information can also be found on the city’s Facebook page.