Although the Ohio Department of Transportation is completing significant roadway improvements in and around Athens, there should not be any major delays for Ohio University students as they leave campus in June.
The major construction that would affect students as they leave campus is the bridge repair on U.S. Route 33 at the East State Street exit, but the major traffic delays should be over by Memorial Day weekend, the weekend of May 26, said Stephanie Filson of ODOT.
The project, which includes resurfacing, updated support and concrete replacement on U.S. Route 33 over East State Street, will not be completed until the middle of August or the beginning of September. However, traffic will be switched to the new lanes in the next three weeks, said Eddie Ward of ODOT. The total cost for the project is $731,000.
One of the largest projects in eastern Athens County is an emergency project to build a bridge over the Hocking River in the Hockingport and Coolville areas.
While the bridge currently has no effect on traffic, there might be significant effects on roadways in the early fall as it nears completion.
This project will upgrade County Road 59 and connect it to State Route 144 across the Hocking River. The bridge will create a new State Route 144 link because the current connecting road is not restorable as a result of the flooding from last spring, Filson said.
While there is no final cost for this emergency project, it is estimated at $11 million, Filson said.
A construction project costing $2.66 million will begin May 15 on six bridges near Columbus Road on U.S. Route 33. The project likely will cause traffic delay, said Don Tillis, engineer for ODOT.
Work on these bridges will include new supports, concrete replacement and resurfacing, Tillis said.
One of the other major projects in the Athens area is a new eastbound ramp on U.S. Route 33 that will connect the highway to State Route 7. This project has an estimated cost of $7 million and will make the area safer for motorists so they will no longer have to cross the southbound lane on State Route 7 to reach U.S. Route 33, Tillis said.
There is limited visibility in certain areas
and hopefully the new ramps will keep people from going too fast said William K. Stanforth of ODOT. Hopefully this will better facilitate getting on and off the highway.
The project is to be completed by July 31, 2007.
Overall there is minimal work being done in Athens so there shouldn't be any major delays for students leaving for the summer
Tillis said.
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