By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
With its deep ditch and dangerous intersections, Ohio 64 between Bowling Green and Haskins has long been an accident waiting to happen.
Motorists who drive the 4.5 miles of Route 64 come within a foot of the steep ditch drop off. Belleville Ditch, estimated anywhere from 8 to 12 feet deep, leaves little space for drivers to recover if they go off the roadway. And the close proximity of the ditch to the road has resulted in erosion of the pavement, leading to frequent repairs.
Then there are the intersections of Route 64 at Bishop Road, just north of Bowling Green, and at Ohio 582 on the south edge of Haskins. Crash numbers qualify both intersections for roundabouts.
Dale Calcamuggio, who lives on Bishop Road just to the west of Route 64, welcomes the roundabout at that intersection.
“We’ve seen all of these accidents happening there,” he said.
Over the last three years, there have been 17 crashes at the intersection of Bishop and Route 64, and 22 crashes at the intersection of Route 582 and Route 64.
Calcamuggio and many others who live in the area attended an open house held by the Ohio Department of Transportation Wednesday on the possible changes along the route to improve safety for motorists.
“Something has to be done. What that is, I don’t know,” Calcamuggio said as he checked out the map of potential plans.
Long aerial maps were stretched across tables, so residents could identify how their properties might be affected. On hand to answer questions were people with expertise on environmental issues, project design, ditch designs, and property acquisitions, said Kelsie Hoagland, public information officer for ODOT District 2.
The project is complicated and costly – with the two roundabouts being the easiest and least expensive parts.
Making enough space between Route 64 and Belleville Ditch, will require either moving the road, or shifting the ditch, or both. Plans also call for making at least one curve – near the Biofit company – less sharp for motorists.
The roundabouts are expected to cost approximately $3 million each, while realignment of the roadway or the ditch is estimated to be more than $25.8 million, according to Jorey Summersett, project manager for ODOT.
Funding for the design of both roundabouts has been received by ODOT, and construction funding has been received for the Bishop Road-Route 64 roundabout. That will be the first to be built, as early as 2028, Summersett said.
In the meantime, a four-way stop will be added to that intersection by July of 2027.
Construction funding for the Route 582-Route 64 roundabout is being pursued, Hoagland said. The earliest date for that project will be 2030. A four-way stop is being added to that intersection by the end of this month, Summersett said.
During the open house, ODOT staff explained some of the alternative plans considered for the 4.5 miles of Route 64. To give more space between the roadway and the ditch, options are being studied to move either the pavement or the ditch. Currently, there is a 1-foot shoulder between the roadway and the guardrails. That shoulder should be a minimum of 4 feet, Summersett said.
One option ruled out because of the expense was enclosing the ditch with a culvert for the length between Bowling Green and Haskins. Still in the running is converting the ditch into a two-stage ditch, which has a low-flow channel at the bottom and gently sloped “benches” on each side – which are designed to handle high water flows while reducing erosion, improving water quality and supporting vegetation.
It’s possible that two houses that are currently too close to the road will need to be removed for the project.
“This isn’t going to happen suddenly,” Hoagland said, predicting the project could be six to 10 years out.
“It all depends on the funding,” Summersett said.
According to ODOT, each roundabout location will be closed to through traffic during construction for approximately 60-90 days. Route 64 improvements will be constructed in phases, with detours limited to the section under construction. Access to all adjacent properties will be maintained.
For complete project details, visit the website: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/travel/projects/121430
Feedback on the project was accepted at the open house, and comments may be submitted on the project website through the comment submittal form, or by phone or email at 419-373-4430 or Jorey.Summersett@dot.ohio.gov.
Comments from the public on the projects will be accepted until Dec. 6.
