MOUNT VERNON — A crosswalk project to enhance pedestrian and vehicular safety on South Main Street will start on Monday, May 13.
The city laid the current crosswalks about 30 years ago using Community Development Block Grant money. City Engineer Brian Ball said they need to be replaced because the base underneath is failing.
“There are five crosswalks that are heavily rutted, particularly the south side of Ohio Avenue. We’ve had a lot of calls,” he explained.
“Whether you’re walking, driving or using a scooter, they are no longer handicap accessible.”
Ball said the work will take place in phases.
Phase 1 involves replacing the north and south crosswalks at the intersection of South Main and Vine streets.
It also includes replacing the southern crosswalk at South Main and Ohio Avenue.
Phase 2 starts on Monday, May 20. This phase replaces the northern and southern crosswalks at the South Main and Gambier intersection.
Customers can still access the downtown merchants. However, South Main Street will be closed to through traffic during construction.
Ball estimates crews will take at least two weeks to complete the crosswalk project. The plan is to finish construction by June’s First Friday event.
The existing crosswalks look like bricks but are colored cement. The city will replace the cement with red concrete, similar to the crosswalks at East High and South Mulberry streets.
If anyone has questions or concerns, call the city’s engineering department at 740-393-9528 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.