By 1808Delaware
A familiar stretch of the Ohio to Erie Trail through Westerville is now undergoing a rebuild aimed at improving both the riding surface and trail-user safety. The City of Westerville has begun work on the portion of the Westerville Ohio to Erie Trail between Old County Line Road and Electric Avenue. The project includes rebuilding the trail within its existing footprint using an improved 4.5-inch pavement profile. No off-pavement work is planned, and the construction is being handled as a single-phase project.
In addition to the pavement work, the project will add flashing beacons at five trail intersections: Park Street, College Avenue, Broadway Avenue, Old County Line Road and Hoff Road. The beacons are intended to improve visibility where trail users meet vehicle traffic, particularly along a corridor that serves walkers, runners, cyclists and regional trail users traveling through Westerville.
While portions of the existing trail will be closed during construction, access to the Ohio to Erie Trail will remain available through a signed detour. The City of Westerville is working with the Ohio Department of Transportation to develop and communicate that detour, which will use the Alum Creek and Polaris Parkway trails from their connections to the Ohio to Erie Trail.
The project is expected to temporarily affect access between the trail and Hanby Park. The trail runs along the western edge of the park and intersects with the west access point to the park’s picnic pavilions and restrooms. Access from that western trail edge will not be available for about one month during construction.
Hanby Park itself will remain open and accessible. Alternative sidewalk access points will remain available near Park and Summit streets to the northeast of the park, and at Summit and Plum streets to the southeast.
Trail construction began Friday, June 19. The City plans to reopen the trail in late August, weather permitting. Additional project information is available through the City’s Parks Projects page at westerville.org/ParksProjects. The project contact is Laura Ball, Parks and Facilities Development Administrator.
Image by Pam Patterson from Pixabay
