by Laura Freeman
Reporter
Hudson -- Orange barrels are going up and work crews have been spotted on city streets as construction season begins.
City Communications Manager Jody Roberts said because no major projects are planned for Routes 91 and 303, it will be a light year for impacting drivers on the main roads through town.
One project on a main road is the turn lane construction on Darrow Road at Terex Road, which began last year -- will finish up in May, weather permitting, said City Engineer Thomas Sheridan.
The $706,000 project with the city funding 10 percent involves realignment of the existing northbound and southbound exclusive left turn lanes on Route 91.
New traffic signals were added last year with pedestrian refuge islands, raised medians, lighting and drainage structures. Hysong Paving Co. employees were working on curb ramps May 5.
The contractor is completing the turn lane work, the restoration work, and workers will be resurfacing and striping the intersection as part of the Darrow and Terex road work.
"Traffic will be maintained during this work, but lanes restrictions will be needed during certain operations such as paving and striping," Sheridan said. "Expect some delays during construction."
Sheridan said the ongoing state Route 8 construction project has increased traffic on several main streets in Hudson and the surrounding communities. Construction began a year ago to create an overpass on Route 8 over Twinsburg Road.
The Twinsburg Road project is part of the $91 million first phase of a two-phase project to turn Route 8 into a limited access expressway between Interstate 271 and Route 303, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation. The first phase is scheduled for completion in September 2009.
Twinsburg Road traffic heading west was rerouted to Walters Road during the past year, and ODOT plans to repair sections of Walters Road in the coming months.
"Traffic will be maintained [on Walters Road] during these repairs, but expect delays during the daytime hours," Sheridan said.
City Manager Anthony Bales said the city is spending more money on infrastructure than in the past years and has many projects. Streets, sidewalks, sewer lines, storm sewers and water lines are scheduled for work this summer, but residents will only be impacted if work is in their area, he added.
The following streets will be reconstructed completely this year as part of $2 million in road repairs, and local traffic will be maintained on these roads:
* Blue Heron Drive from Hudson Park Drive to Oxgate Court;
* Cheshire Drive from Wilshire Park Drive to near Knollshire Drive;
* Herrick Park Drive from Johnathan Drive to Highgate Drive;
* Hudson Park Drive (North Section) from Blue Heron Drive to near Leeway Drive; and
* Silverberry Lane from Bendleton Drive to the cul-de-sac.
At least 18 other street sections involve removing two inches of road pavement and adding new asphalt.
A traffic signal at Stoney Hill Drive on Darrow Road will temporarily impact traffic in southern Hudson. The work is budgeted for $135,000 and includes mast arms, the traffic light, updated signage, pavement markings, emergency vehicle preemption and vehicle detection. Once a contract is awarded, the work would begin sometime this summer.
New sidewalks along the east side of Darrow Road between Herrick Park and Edgeview drives will impact northern Hudson for a few weeks once the work begins sometime in the spring or summer. Vito Gironda Construction Co. was awarded the contract for $126,828 but also is working on street and sidewalk panel replacements throughout the city.
A complete list of the other streets that will be resurfaced this year is available by calling 330-342-1770. These streets will have some delays, but traffic will be maintained, Sheridan said.
E-mail: lfreeman@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3150