Monday, May 20, 2013

Secor Road access to I-475 to close for 10 days in June



Press release from City of Toledo:

Secor Road access to I-475 to close for 10 days in June

Closure will emphasize safety, limit congestion during reconstruction

As work progresses on the Secor Road reconstruction project, it will become necessary to close both east and westbound on and off ramps to interstate 475 for 10 days beginning June 4, 2013. During this time Secor Road at the base of all four ramps will be reconstructed.

Representatives from the City of Toledo, project contractor Geddis Paving and the Ohio Department of Transportation District Two office met to determine the best way to reconstruct the road at the base of on/off ramps with minimal impact to businesses and motorists. The major concerns for all parties were issues involving safety for motorists on the interstate, motorists on Secor Road and workers involved in the construction project.


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“Slowing cars from exiting the off-ramp by restricting lane access can lead to traffic back-ups on the expressway which can become dangerous,” said Robin Whitney, City of Toledo Commissioner of Engineering Services. “Additionally, restricting the access of on-ramps at these particular intersections increases the difficulty for large trucks making turns and again causes safety concerns both for workers and passing motorists. By closing all ramps for a 10-day period we are able to maintain traffic on Secor Road and the result is much safer for all who are traveling and working in the area. We can also complete this phase of the project much faster than would be possible by only reconstructing the road one lane at a time.”

During the ramp closure, the city is suggesting eastbound travelers on I-475 use the ProMedica Parkway exit as an alternative to Secor Road. Westbound motorists are able to exit the interstate at Douglas Road, Monroe Street or Talmadge Road. Surface street detours will direct traffic from those exits back to Secor Road.

The city will work through its ombudsman to give businesses along the Secor Road corridor advanced notice of the impending closure. City engineers continue to work with the project contractor to ensure that a strict timeline is met to ensure businesses are able to plan for the impact throughout the project.

“Secor Road is a major commercial thoroughfare in west Toledo and we want to be sure that while we’re investing in the infrastructure to improve this area of town, we’re also investing in the businesses that have committed to our local economy,” said Mayor Michael P. Bell. “This is the first time we’ve used an ombudsman on a major road construction project and I think its helping us to communicate better with businesses and ensure their concerns are both heard and addressed. Construction is never without its headaches, but I appreciate the patience of the businesses as we work to improve the road.”

The Secor Road reconstruction project began in March 2013. To date the northbound lanes of the road from Central to Queenswood have been removed, the water line replaced and the road reconstructed. Currently the southbound lanes are undergoing reconstruction. The road from Queenswood to just north of the I-475 access point will be reconstructed during the 10-day closure in June. Work in late summer will include reconstruction of the Central Avenue and Secor Road intersection. The entire reconstruction project is anticipated to be complete by November 2013.

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1 comment:

Mad Jack said...

The major concerns for all parties were issues involving safety for motorists on the interstate, motorists on Secor Road and workers involved in the construction project.

Bullshit. The major concern is something on the order of, "How can we sell this to the public without pissing them off too badly?"

These decisions are being made by a group of people whose collective IQ is solidly into the double digits, and We the People are just supposed to sit back and applaud the outstanding job they're doing. Bullshit, bullshit and bullshit. Damned liars.

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