MOUNT VERNON — Amendments to the Edgewood Road improvements legislation are expected to be the center of attention at the March 25 Mount Vernon City Council meeting.
The change was spearheaded by a March 6 public hearing meeting, where city residents voiced their concerns about the project and asked if the road would be a through lane for semi-truck traffic and Coshocton Avenue.
The resolution is only for the design of Edgewood Road–not advertising for construction, safety service director Tanner Salyers said.
After city administration reviewed the language of the Ohio Department of Transportation project, Salyers said specific language will be taken out of the resolution that didn’t align with the city’s project.
For instance, the word widening was changed to reconstruction in the passage below. Other changes are also reflected in bold.
“Reconstruction of Edgewood Road from Gambier Raod (US 229) to (US 36.) Roadway improvements are to include (if necessary,) drainage improvements and multimodal improvements (any non-vehicular modes of transportation throughout the project extents,)” the legislation now reads.
If the project is approved, ODOT will participate in waterline repairs, Mount Vernon Engineer Brian Ball said.
Salyers said Edgewood Road would not become a through lane for semi-traffic — instead, those vehicles will utilize Ohio 13 and a potential bypass.
Mount Vernon resident Dennis Swingle requested another public meeting for further questions and answers about Edgewood Road, noting truck traffic occurs on Edgewood Road.
If the design resolution passes, councilman Mel Severns said public hearings will follow.
Swingle, among other residents, asked why the resolution is “declared an emergency,” which allows the city to enact the legislation once it’s passed rather than waiting 30 days for citizens to file a petition against it.
Taking out the emergency clause language hasn’t been mentioned by council, Severns said after Monday’s council meeting.
Salyers said approximately 4,938 people drive through Edgewood Road daily, but the road is not designed to handle that amount of traffic.
For further traffic plans, Salyers said there’s an “idea” to make a connection between U.S. 36 and U.S. 229.
Once the designs are completed, Salyers said, the drawings will be provided to the community.
Designing the street with safety in mind is paramount, Salyers said. This includes accessibility to wheelchairs, strollers, the visually impaired and overall walkability in the least restrictive way for property owners.
“It’s critical in this project and we want to make sure there are ways for public engagement and involvement,” Salyers said.