File photo
The Ohio Department of Transportation’s slip repair project on Ohio 139 in New Boston is still on hold, and its completion date has been pushed back to Nov. 21. Seen here on May 3, the project has been at a virtual stand-still because of design flaws.
RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY
PDT Staff Writer
NEW BOSTON — The Ohio Department of Transportation’s slip repair project at Ohio 139 in New Boston will remain on hold until July 9 while contractors are away from the job. The project’s completion date has now been pushed back from October to Nov. 21.
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) closed Ohio 139 in New Boston on March 5 to begin a 180-day slip repair project. After the hillside project is complete, ODOT will resurface 139 between the New Boston corporation line at Blaine Avenue to U.S. 52 East. During the resurfacing project, 139 will be open to one-lane traffic only.
The $1.6 million state contract was awarded to Complete General Construction, in Columbus, with a target completion of fall 2012. In the meantime, ODOT has detoured traffic on U.S. 23 and U.S. 52, re-routing traffic far in advance to Ohio 335 to avoid traffic on Ohio 139. The village of New Boston also set up local detours on Oak, Cedar and Maple streets, causing lengthy traffic tie-ups on Lakeview Avenue.
The road project was placed on temporary hold in late April after steel beams used in the retaining wall began failing beneath the weight of the hillside. The state ordered a redesign to correct the problem, and the crews went back to work in May. The redesigned features, however, did not work as well as planned, and the project went on hold again last month, waiting for another redesign. The latest redesign reportedly will cost Ohio an additional $160,000, which could only be approved by ODOT Director Jerry Wray.
Wray approved the new design and the additional cost last week, but by that time the contractor had already moved on to other projects. New Boston Village Administrator Steve Hamilton reported to village council on Tuesday that the workers should return on July 9. Until then the project remains stalled.
Ryan Scott Ottney can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 235, or rottney@heartlandpublications.com.
They can start with new design engineers, at least they use them, but two re-designs and counting?
Give us a break.
Didn't the Route 52 repaving run over in time?
Be quiet though, at least Scioto County is getting some of the State and Federal money?
The MFT, Motor Fuel Tax money the city gets goes to their salaries, perks, and leave time not our streets and roadway, much like our water and sewer systems and parks and recreation, and on and on and on.............