Local summer projects underway

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

The month of June brings with it warmer weather, plenty of summertime activities and of course, road and other types of construction.

Work is already underway in the Van Wert area, with crews just this week starting to construct a new shared-use path and sidewalk, including curb ramps and crosswalks along Fox Rd. between Shannon St. and Washington St., and on U.S. 127 (Washington Street) between OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital and the city’s water plant. Cones are currently up along some of Fox Rd., and work is expected to run into August. According to the ODOT District 1 Office, the estimated cost of that project is $343,000.

Another project that was scheduled to begin early this month has been delayed a bit. Instead of June 4, construction of a single lane roundabout at the intersection of Lincoln Highway and U.S. 224, not far from the Van Wert city limits, is now tentatively scheduled to begin on July 6. However, that date is not set in stone. According to ODOT District 1 Public Information Officer Cheri Newton, more information is expected at a June 23 pre-construction meeting. Once work begins, it’s expected that Lincoln Highway traffic will be detoured for approximately 60 days.

That project will also include:

• Bridge rehabilitation on U.S. 224 over the railroad between U.S. 30 and Lincoln Highway, causing traffic to be detoured.
• Construction of a Restricted Crossing U-turn (RCUT) at U.S. 30/John Brown. The median will be closed and traffic on John Brown Rd. will closed for 45 days once work begins. U.S. will always maintain at least one lane of traffic in each direction.

“The contractor may not construct the RCUT at the same time as the work on U.S. 224,” Newton explained. “We currently do not know which part they will start first.”

Another project that was slated for this summer has been put on hold, due to a lack of bids. Construction of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Bonnewitz Avenue and U.S. 127 in Van Wert was scheduled to begin later this month, but there were no bidders. It is currently out for bid again, with a deadline of Friday, June 26.

“We changed the completion date to July, 2027 (previously November, 2026) to allow more time to procure the materials and do the work,” Newton said.