By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Since early summer, two of Bowling Green’s four overpasses over Interstate 75 have been closed for construction.
Due to recent heavy downpours, the overpasses will remain closed longer than expected, according to Kelsie Hoagland, public information specialist with the Ohio Department of Transportation District 2 office in Bowling Green.
“Both have had a couple delays,” Hoagland said of the East Poe Road and East Gypsy Lane Road overpasses.
So the original completion date of Aug. 31 has been pushed back to early September for East Gypsy Lane, and late September for East Poe Road.
The $2.7 million project entails replacing the bridge decks, rehabilitating the abutments, and replacing the approach slabs to both overpasses.
“They’re moving along,” Hoagland said on Thursday. But the significant rainfalls in the last couple weeks slowed the work on several days, she said.
Having two of the city’s four I-75 overpasses shut down has been an adjustment to local motorists. And from the city’s perspective, the closures affect the fire division’s response, according to Joe Fawcett, the city’s director of public services.
“It’s just an inconvenience to everyday residents,” Fawcett said on Thursday. “I think everybody is looking forward to those being open.”
The city is also experiencing some delays with the East Wooster repaving project that was planned to start earlier this summer.
After awarding the bid for the project to Henry Bergman Inc., it was discovered that the company did not have an asphalt formula that is certified by ODOT.
“It’s more of an annoyance from a citizen standpoint – more of an irritation,” Fawcett said. “I think there’s still hope it will proceed in this calendar year.”
The repaving project is being done through ODOT’s Urban Paving Program. That program would fund 80% of the cost for the repaving of Wooster Street and Haskins Road.
The first phase covers East Wooster Street from Campbell Hill Road to the CSX railroad tracks. The second phase will cover West Wooster Street from Church Street to Haskins Road, then Haskins Road approximately to the city corporation line near Wren Road.
