By RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY

PDT Staff Writer

NEW BOSTON — The Ohio Department of Transportation provided clarification Friday of a letter accepted by the Scioto County Commissioners last week extending until December a road project on Ohio 139. A spokesperson for ODOT, Kathleen Fuller, said the work extension applies to a separate sewer line project on 139 and will not affect the slip repair project that has part of 139 closed in New Boston.

During the project, 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 has also set up local detours. Southbound vehicle traffic on 139 will be detoured down Cedar and Maple streets, to Lakeview Avenue. All southbound large truck traffic must detour on Maple Street only. The village will be installing updated controls at the existing traffic light at the intersection of Lakeview and 52 West to better regulate the flow of vehicles passing through New Boston. Vehicle traffic on 139 northbound will be detoured from Lakeview Avenue to Oak and York streets, to connect with 139 north on the other side of the work zone. All northbound large truck traffic must detour on York Street only.

Spruce Street, in the middle of the work area, will be closed at the 139 end. The street will be open for residential, two-way traffic only, to allow residents on and off the narrow street.

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.

Last week, the Scioto County Commissioners accepted a letter from ODOT approving an extension to a project on 139 until Dec. 31. Fuller explained Friday that it was an unrelated sewer project on a different portion of 139.

“On our project, the closure of the road is for 180 days and that puts it into September. We should have the route open in early September, and then for the remainder of the project which will last into November we’ll maintain traffic. It will be open to motorists,” Fuller said.

New Boston Village Administrator Steve Hamilton said the project had an estimated final completion date of Oct. 22. He said it could be finished even sooner, or it could be later, depending on how well the project goes.

Ryan Scott Ottney can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 235, or rottney@heartlandpublications.com.