PHASE 1:  Engineering Design and Public Hearings

Phase 1 of the project was completed on May 29, 2007, as the final design plans for the project were officially submitted to the Ohio Department of Transportation. 

PHASE 2:  Phase 2 of the project began in early 2006, with negotiation of right-of-way acquisition with property owners.  The City has proposed to acquire temporary of permanent right-of-way and/or easements from certain property owners who have been contacted on this matter previously.  The City has now obtained (via signed agreement with property owners, or filing appropriations action, i.e., 'eminent domain', in a Court of Common Pleas) rights to all necessary right-of-way and easements needed for the project construction.

In early 2007, the Private Utility Relocations portion of Phase 2 began.  Norfolk-Southern Railroad and six different private utility companies (South Central Power, Columbia Gas Transmission, AT & T, Insight Communications, and Northeast Ohio Gas) are now in the process of relocating their facilities in the corridor, prior to project bidding and construction.  It is anticipated that a new rail crossing and private utility relocations will be completed by late Fall 2007.  Certain property owners have, as part of a temporary or permanent right-of-way or easement for the project, been contacted by the city to remove trees or other landscaping components that exist on property and are in conflict with private utility relocations.

PHASE 3:  Phase 3 of the project will begin in October 2007 with the project being advertised for construction bids by the Ohio Department of Transportation.  Per ODOT's current schedule, construction bids will be received in mid-December of 2007, and project construction itself will begin shortly thereafter, weather permitting.