[ back ]
$2.5 million project to speed traffic flow
(by Sue Reid - July 26, 2012)
$2.5 million project to speed traffic flow
By SUE REID
Solon City Council's public works committee authorized a request for proposals last week to begin the design process for improvements to the intersection of SOM Center (Route 91) and Aurora (Route 43) roads.
In March, the committee authorized the city's engineering department to apply for safety funding for the project through the Ohio Department of Transportation. The funding application was to implement the long-term recommendation for widening SOM Center Road in order to eliminate the split phasing of the traffic signal at Aurora Road.
In June, the city was notified that its application for safety and congestion program funds through ODOT was approved for the intersection improvements. The total estimated design and construction cost is nearly $2.5 million, and ODOT funding will be about $1.7 million, city Engineer John J. Busch said. The city will pay the balance of more than $700,000.
"The funding split is 90 percent ODOT funds, which will cover the costs of right of way, utilities and construction," Mr. Busch said. "The city's share is 10 percent of the eligible costs plus any additional items requested by the city." The city also is responsible to cover the costs for the design, construction engineering and inspection.
The right of way and utility work is slated for the state's fiscal year 2014, and construction is planned in 2015, Mr. Busch said.
He said the city is still in the preliminary phases of securing funding. He asked the committee for authorization to finish the funding paperwork needed for a portion with the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency. The city will apply to its transportation improvement program, he said.
Mr. Busch said, although the construction is not slated to begin until 2015, there is a lengthy approval process that needs completed, including the ODOT review and property acquisition associated with the project. "The sooner we can get started, the better," he said.
In July 2007, ODOT presented the city with a safety engineering study of the intersection which was completed by HNTB, a professional engineering company. The recommendations included short-, medium- and long-term solutions.
The city has addressed the short- and medium-term solutions, Mr. Busch said, and now is looking at long-term options. Those include eliminating the split phasing of the northbound and southbound left-turn lanes on SOM Center Road.
The problem at the intersection is that it is not wide enough to allow left turns both northbound and southbound to operate in the same phase, he said.
Considered a large and challenging project as it involves the actual widening of the east side of SOM Center Road at the busy intersection, it is expected to be completed in one construction season, Mr. Busch said.
"I think it will be really valuable but just will be tough during construction based on how busy the intersection is," he said. "Once it's done, it will be a big improvement to the SOM and Aurora corridors as far as traffic congestion."
[ back ]
