By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians will see new projects to make their travels easier and safer in Bowling Green the next few years.
There will be multiple shared use paths constructed, pedestrian hybrid beacons added, bike accommodations studied, a roundabout added, sidewalks built, and safety studies conducted.
Bowling Green’s Director of Public Works Mick Murray presented a lengthy list to City Council on Tuesday of projects completed last year and those coming in 2025 and beyond in the city.
In an effort to make winter travel safer, the city recently installed five road temperature sensors that provide data on surface temperatures, grip conditions, snow/ice cover, and treatment levels of salt or brine. The information will be available for city residents to track progress during bad weather.
The list of finished and future projects includes:
COMPLETED PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
Repairs:
- Repaired all asphalt and concrete removed or damaged due to utility work.
- Conducted additional asphalt and concrete repairs, including crack sealing on 15 streets.
Infrastructure Improvements:
- Installed new sidewalks, curbs, and curb ramps at the Sand Ridge and South Maple intersection in preparation for a rapid flash beacon crosswalk by the electric division, identified in the Safe Routes to School Study.
- Completed a sidewalk infill project on North Enterprise between Poe and Frazee, adding 565 feet of 5-foot-wide sidewalk and an updated curb ramp.
Waste Management:
- Managed 5,808 weekly refuse/recycling stops and performed 870 heavy item collections.
Leaf and Brush Collection:
- Conducted two rounds of leaf collection and four rounds of brush collection. As of September, sign-up is no longer required for brush collection.
Winter Weather Operations:
The city installed five road temperature sensors across the city, providing real-time data on surface temperature, grip conditions, snow/ice cover, and treatment levels of salt or brine, Murray said.
A Winter Weather Dashboard for the city is nearing completion. That dashboard will:
- Tracks streets serviced and treatment applications.
- Displays salt and brine usage using sensors on spreaders and pumps.
- Will be public-facing, allowing residents to track progress during winter weather events.
Technology Pilot Projects:
- Testing software for real-time waste management tracking and improved service efficiency.
Cemetery Digitization:
- Continued digitizing Oak Grove Cemetery records. Budgeted to use radar (GPR) for the final two sections to locate vaults and improve GIS maps.
FACILITIES PROJECTS
2024 Accomplishments:
- Inspected the roofs and exteriors of all city-owned buildings; developed a five-year repair plan with Garland Company.
- Installed a new roof at the Pearl Street Fire Station and restored the Municipal Court’s western and upper elevations, including masonry cleaning and sealing.
- Repaired tree damage at Wintergarden Lodge.
- Closed 190 Facilities Help Tickets through the City Start Page system.
2025 Priorities:
- Install LED lighting in Municipal Court courtrooms and Pearl Fire Station truck bay.
- Relocate the Simpson Garden Park HVAC system from the attic to a maintenance closet.
- Upgrade HVAC equipment at the Community Center.
- Complete repairs on the Municipal Court’s remaining three exterior elevations.
- Begin two masonry repair projects at the Water Treatment Plant.
URBAN FORESTRY
2024 Highlights:
- Trees Planted: 172
- Trees Removed: 85 (59 hazard trees, 7 infrastructure conflicts).
- Tree Pruning: Over 500 trees.
- Addressed 800 tree concerns from residents.
- Hosted two tree care events and visited three elementary schools for Arbor Day education.
- Secured a $415,000 Urban and Community Forestry Grant for removing hazardous trees, pruning, and planting canopy trees.
- Received the 44th Tree City Award and 30th Growth Award.
2025 Plans:
- Host the Northwest Ohio Tree City Awards Ceremony on April 16, with planning led by Adrien Lowien-Kirien, the Tree Commission, and ODNR’s Stephany Miller.
PAVING PROJECTS
2024 Projects
Completed ARPA paving projects, including:
- Pearl Street (Wintergarden to Church and Church to Main).
- Sand Ridge Road (Wintergarden to South Main).
Paved Gypsy Lane (Sand Ridge to Walmart entrance and I-75 to Dunbridge).
Partnered with Plain Township for cape seal treatments on:
- Brim Road, from Bishop Road to the city corporation limit.
- Mitchell Road, from Poe Road to the corporation limit.
Repaved the Carter Park parking lot.
2025 Projects
South Main Street repaving from Ordway Avenue to the corporation limit, including:
- Dedicated turn lanes at Napoleon Road.
- New curbs between Gypsy Lane and Napoleon.
- A shared-use path on the west side of South Main.
- Installation of two pedestrian hybrid beacons.
- Planting 85 street trees by the urban forester.
East Wooster pedestrian hybrid beacons installation at Maple Street, with crosswalks and signal activation on both sides.
Projects in the Pipeline
- Brim shared use path (Cogan’s Crossing to high school): Construction begins in 2026.
- Crim to Mercer shared use path: Construction begins in 2027.
- Brim and Bishop roundabout: Scheduled for 2028.
- Conneaut Avenue sidewalk infill: Construction begins in 2026, funded by ODOT and ARPA.
- South Wintergarden sidewalk infill: Extending to North Street, scheduled for 2026.
- Gypsy Lane pedestrian hybrid beacon: At Slippery Elm Trail crossing, scheduled for 2026.
- North Main shared use path: From Nims Road to Poe Road, funded by a $3.6M USDOT Safe Streets for All Award, begins in 2028.
Safety Studies
- Main Street Bike & Pedestrian Study: Mannik Smith is finalizing traffic models and analyzing intersections. Conceptual themes to be developed with Alta Planning Group, and the steering committee meets in February.
- Sand Ridge Safety Study: Evaluating crash frequencies and potential countermeasures for Sand Ridge/Wintergarden and Sand Ridge/Gypsy Lane.
- West Wooster Study: RFQ issued for improving bike/pedestrian safety between Church Street and Wintergarden Road.
- City Lot 1: Under review by Edge Design and Planning Group for improvements in aesthetics and functionality.
“I’ll conclude by emphasizing the incredible dedication of our public works staff, who go above and beyond daily to provide exceptional service to our residents and city departments,” Murray said.
