The city’s project to widen Route 31 will also see benefits to access into Mill Valley. A new entrance into the subdivision will be built, while the westbound on-ramp from U.S. 33 to Route 31 will be moved south. The city hopes to begin these improvements in 2020.
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The City of Marysville had both good and bad news to share regarding state grants at Monday night’s council meeting.
The Ohio Department of Transportation has awarded the city nearly $1.8 million in funding for phase two of the Route 31 widening project to start in 2020. The city will not, however, see any money from the state to replace the Fourth Street bridge over town run.
City Public Service Director Mike Andrako told council that the Small Cities Grant, going toward the road widening project, is “really good news.”
Phase two of the project, which the city spoke about earlier this year, is aimed at improving access to Mill Valley near U.S. 33. In addition to widening Route 31, Northwoods Drive will be extended toward Route 31, while Cobblestone Way will connect to that extension.
Additionally, a portion of the westbound on-ramp from U.S. 33 will be moved further south so it connects to the westbound off-ramp. The ramp that merges onto Route 31 will remain intact.
Andrako said the city recently found out they won the grant, which will partially fund the project. Phase two is projected to come in at about $3.5 million in total.
That said, Andrako added the project is still in its early stages, so the total cost is still somewhat up in the air. With more than two years before the construction begins, the city still has design and engineering work to get done.
“It’s a little early to tell at this point, typically, this early on in our projects,” he said.
According to Andrako, the city will bring legislation to enter into the grant agreement with ODOT before council in the near future.
Less positive was the news that ODOT decided to pass on granting Municipal Bridge Program funds to the city to help with the replacement of the bridge on Fourth Street that goes over town run. Andrako noted that since the grant is awarded annually, they will likely just keep applying for it until they get it.
While replacing the bridge isn’t a pressing matter, Adrako said in an interview with the Journal-Tribune that it will likely need replaced in a few years. Getting some funding in place will help prepare the city.
“If we can get funding for it, that’s going to really help us,” he said.
City Manager Terry Emery noted that the state has award the city multiple grants recently, so ODOT may have opted to skip over Marysville regarding the Bridge Program.
“They may have finally reached the point where they say, ‘hey, maybe they need to take one off,’” he said.
In other council news:
-Council held the first reading of an ordinance to purchase the temporary traffic lights on the southern end of the Route 31 bridge. Council voted to waive the second reading. Council will hear citizen comments and hold the final vote on the legislation at the next council meeting.
-Council honored Ohio Reformatory for Women Warden Ronnie Burkes for her achievements at ORW, and for the relationship she’s fostered with the City of Marysville.