MOUNT VERNON — It won’t be long before motorists on a portion of Danville Amity Road get to stop complaining about potholes. Instead, they’ll face possible traffic delays due to a roadway safety project.
Knox County Engineer Cameron Keaton said Phase 1 of the $2.8 million road improvement project will go out to bid in the next couple of months. Phase 1 covers from Skyline Drive east to Richards Street in the village.
“We will not know the exact schedule until we have a contractor on board. All work will be completed in 2023,” Keaton said via email. “We hope to maintain one lane of traffic through most of the project; however, we will need to close the road completely during certain construction activity.”
The project is 100 percent funded through Ohio Department of Transportation safety funds and the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC). Improvements include widening and resurfacing the roadway, new pavement markings, signage, and guardrail.
The scope for Phase 2 has been modified due to lack of funds. It now stretches from Monroe Mills Road east to Skyline Drive. Originally, the plan was to improve the road from Ohio 3 to Skyline Drive.
“Design work started on the Phase 2 portion in February 2023, and it will most likely be a 2025 construction project,” Keaton said.
In addition to Danville Amity Road improvements, two bridge replacements are on tap for 2023. Both are in Morris Township.
The Coffing Road (Township Road 401) bridge replacement will start next month with a completion date of August. The $730,951 cost is funded through Local Bridge Replacement Funds (95%) and local funds (5%).
The scope of work includes replacing the existing single-span, 64-foot steel beam bridge over Granny Creek. The new structure will be a composite box beam bridge with new abutments and minor approach work.
The anticipated startup date for the Beckley Road (Township Road 401) bridge replacement is March/April. The project replaces an existing three-span, 165-foot steel beam bridge over the North Branch of the Kokosing River with a three-span continuous steel beam bridge with new abutments and major approach work.
Local Bridge Replacement Funds (95%) and local funds are the revenue sources for the estimated $1.887 million project. The estimated completion date is October.
Design work on the $1.255 million Krause Road bridge replacement started this month. The project is 100 percent funded through the Bridge Formula Program.
The other major road project is resurfacing of Fredericktown Amity Road (County Road 14). OPWC funds will cover 55 percent of the $1.083 million cost. Local funds make up the remaining 45 percent.
The annual resurfacing and box culvert projects are 100 percent funded locally. Resurfacing projects include:
•Range Line Road (CR57): $344,955
•Arrington Road (CR30): $268,298
•Sapps Run Road (CR44): $302,640
Culvert projects include:
•Glen Road (TR257) box culvert: $115,000
•Crooked Street (TR276) box culvert: $35,000
•Vincent Road (CR46) box culvert: $42,000
•Johnstown Road (CR19) box culvert repair: $13,000
The total construction cost of all 2023 road projects is $9,500,531
