By 1808Delaware
Delaware County’s 2026 construction season is not defined by a single project or corridor. It is defined by volume. Across the county, road resurfacing, bridge replacements, intersection rebuilds, and new roundabouts will unfold simultaneously from April through November. The work spans county roads, township routes, and key development corridors, backed by a mix of county funds, township dollars, state grants, and developer contributions.
The Baseline: Systemwide Resurfacing
The largest single category of work is the countywide paving program.
From May through October 2026:
- $4 million in County Road & Bridge Funds
- More than $6 million in township funding
- More than $1 million in OPWC grants
These dollars support asphalt resurfacing and preventive maintenance treatments across both county and township roads.
The scope is broad rather than concentrated. Instead of one corridor, the work is distributed across the network, meaning:
- Dozens of road segments improved
- Short-duration lane restrictions rather than long closures
- Preventive treatments designed to extend pavement life, not just repair failure
This is the maintenance backbone of the system, and it represents the largest total dollar investment in 2026.
Five Bridge Replacements, Five Defined Impacts
Between April and November, the county will replace five small bridges, each with a similar construction profile:
- Funding: $2 million (County Road & Bridge Funds)
- Closure duration: approximately 2 months per bridge
- Construction approach: full closure, not phased traffic
Locations:
- Kenny Road (¼ mile west of Porter Central)
- Curve Road (¼ mile west of Glenn Road)
- Bowtown Road (¼ mile west of North Old State Road)
- Curtis Road (¼ mile south of Roberts Road)
- Dent Road (½ mile north of State Route 37)
Roundabouts: Multiple Builds, Sequential Closures
Roundabouts continue to be a central design choice in Delaware County’s traffic strategy.
County Line Road Roundabouts (May–September 2026)
- Funding: $5 million (State Economic Development Funds)
- Two installations:
- Peanut-shaped roundabout at Center Village/Duncan Plains
- Circular roundabout at Fancher Road
- Construction sequencing: intersections closed one at a time
- Closure duration: about 2 months each
Additional 2026 Roundabouts
- Peachblow & Piatt Road
- $1.8 million
- 2-month closure timed with Olentangy Local Schools summer break
- Local access maintained for residents, church, and elementary school
- Big Walnut & Tussic Street
- $2.5 million
- Includes shared-use path (Big Walnut) and sidewalk (Tussic)
- 2-month closure
- Hyatts & Section Line Road
- $2 million
- 2-month closure with residential access maintained
Across these projects, the pattern is consistent: single-lane roundabouts, full closures, and added pedestrian infrastructure where possible.
A Major Intersection Rebuild: SR 3 and Lewis Center Road
One of the most complex projects in 2026 is the reconstruction of the intersection at State Route 3 and Lewis Center Road.
- Timeline: April to October 2026
- Funding: $4 million (County + ODOT)
Key components:
- New turn lanes on SR 3
- Installation of a traffic signal
- Widening of SR 3 to accommodate turning movements
- Replacement of a large culvert on Lewis Center Road
The culvert work drives the traffic impact:
- Full closure east of SR 3 for 2 months
- Followed by 2-month closure west for widening to three lanes toward Worthington Road
Unlike roundabout projects, this corridor maintains two-way traffic on SR 3 during much of construction, making it one of the more complex traffic management efforts of the year.
Targeted Improvements: Paths, Signals, and Local Access
Not all projects are large-scale, but several add important network connections.
East Powell Road Shared Use Path (June–August)
- $650,000 total funding
- $250,000 County
- $400,000 Clean Ohio Trail Funds
- New multi-use asphalt path (north side)
- Completion of sidewalk (south side)
- Traffic maintained throughout construction
South Old State & Sunglow Drive
- $800,000 (Developer-funded)
- New intersection tied to Evans Farm development
- Turn lanes and traffic signal
- Only short-term traffic interruptions, not full closure
Late-Season Work: Reconstruction and Terrain Challenges
Stockwell Road Improvements (August–November)
- Funding: $1 million (OPWC, Township, TID)
- Reconstruction of hill west of Big Walnut Creek
- Resurfacing west to State Route 61
- 2-month closure at the hill segment
What Defines 2026
Across all projects, several patterns emerge:
1. Closure-Based Construction
Most major projects rely on full closures lasting about two months, rather than partial lane restrictions.
2. Standardized Roundabout Design
Nearly all new roundabouts are:
- Single-lane
- Built within tight construction windows
- Paired with pedestrian improvements where feasible
3. Mixed Funding Structure
Projects are financed through:
- County Road & Bridge Funds
- Township contributions
- State programs (OPWC, ODOT, economic development funds)
- Developer-backed infrastructure
4. Geographic Distribution
Work is spread across:
- Rural connectors (bridge replacements)
- Growth corridors (SR 3, South Old State)
- Suburban intersections (roundabouts)
The Measurable Outcome
By the end of the 2026 construction season, Delaware County will have:
- Resurfaced miles of roadway across multiple jurisdictions
- Replaced five aging bridges
- Constructed or initiated multiple roundabouts at key intersections
- Upgraded a major state-route intersection
- Expanded pedestrian and shared-use infrastructure
The effect is cumulative. Each project is targeted, but together they represent a coordinated update to how the county’s transportation network functions.
