The return of summer brings with it relaxing days by the pool, evening skies marked by the traveling glow of fireflies, backyard barbecues and the occasional orange construction barrel dotting City roadways and curbsides.
This summer is no different, and the City of Westerville will kick off a number of construction projects designed to improve the safety and landscape of some of the City’s most traveled areas. Among the most striking transformations are the reconstruction of the eastern portion of Schrock Road, the connection of Polaris Parkway and County Line Road West, and the South State Street Phase II improvements.
The projects slated for this summer are made possible in part by the 2008 income tax restructuring initiative, in which Westerville residents approved increased funds for City operations as well as roadway and infrastructure improvement projects. In the 2012 Resident Survey, approximately 77 percent of residents rated the City’s road construction services as good or excellent. All three projects discussed below carry forward the City’s ongoing commitment to provide exemplary public services and high-quality infrastructure upgrades.
East Schrock Road
East Schrock Road will be completely rebuilt from Pointview Drive to Hempstead Road to remedy years of traffic wear and tear to the roadway’s pavement. Planned infrastructure improvements include street lighting improvements and sharrows – road markings designed to alert motorists to the presence of bicyclists.
Initial design concepts included dedicated parking and bike lanes. However, after a series of open houses, public comment revealed low public support for the parking and bike lanes, resulting in the elimination of those elements from the final project design. As a result, the reconstruction will continue to resemble the functionality of the roadway today, with two lanes of traffic in each direction and parking permitted in the curb lane. A roundabout proposed for the intersection of Spring Road was likewise eliminated. Construction begins in May and will continue until September.
Plan ahead: Lane restrictions will be in place for the duration of the project. A single through lane in each direction will be maintained at all times on Schrock Road. Motorists are encouraged to utilize east-west alternates to bypass the impacted area.
Worthington Road Extension
A new north-south three-lane road will connect Polaris Parkway to County Line Road West, and an additional east-west three-lane road will run from Old Worthington Road to the new Worthington Road connector. The Worthington Road extension will provide residents and visitors with another means of accessing the City from the northwest. The area will also showcase new apartment homes, The Ravines at Westar, and expanded commercial, retail and office mixed-use development.
Construction is in progress with project completion planned for November. Traffic will be maintained at all times on Polaris Parkway and County Line Road West.
South State Street/Schrock Road
The safety improvements completed at State Street and Huber Village will extend north to areas along State Street just north of the Schrock Road intersection. Schrock Road will also be partially reconstructed between Otterbein Avenue and the Kroger/Roush Hardware traffic signal and receive upgrades consistent with new streetscape enhancements.
Construction will begin with utility relocations in 2014 and continue with street and sidewalk improvements in 2015. Although through traffic will be maintained at all times, lane restrictions will be in place for much of the project. Motorists are encouraged to identify alternate routes for travel.
These projects are in addition to the City’s annual street pavement maintenance program, which includes resurfacing, seal coating and crack filling. For more information about these and other City construction projects, visit www.westerville.org/construction.
