The parking lot was filling fast and a long line had formed at the door by the time the Ohio Department of Transportation open house began at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
More than 100 people filled the meeting room in the first hour of the three-hour open house. It was held at the Pataskala Public Library on Sept. 3 to provide details of projects that could improve traffic flow and safety along four north-south corridors connecting I-70 with Rt. 161/37/16.
Those in attendance moved from one poster to another showing current conditions and possible improvements. Many were relieved by one thing they did not see on any of what are currently two-lane corridors – additional lanes from one end to the other.
Instead, the crowd of mostly residents and public officials from western Licking County viewed a series of proposed turn lanes, roundabouts, traffic lights and roadway reconfigurations along these routes:
– Mink Street, which runs directly south from the New Albany International Business Park to I-70 between Reynoldsburg and Etna.
– Rt. 310, which runs south from Rt. 161 through Pataskala and Etna to I-70.
– Rt. 37 south from Granville to I-70.
– Thornwood Drive, which runs from Granville south through Newark and Heath, and connects with Rt. 79 near Hebron and I-70.
The specific details for each route are available on the ODOT project website. A page within the website also gives details about projects that were eliminated from consideration.
“Road widening was a big question for a lot of people,” said Erin Sheidlower, an ODOT project manager, but other than turn lanes, “that’s not part of these proposals.”
She said ODOT staff members and consultants have been looking at possible connector routes for months. They discussed them with leaders in communities near and along those routes and narrowed the list to these four routes.
And then they developed specific ideas to address traffic congestion at intersections – very much like ODOT revealed in July to address traffic flow along Rt. 37 from Sunbury to Granville. The proposals are based on traffic projections and to address traffic flow for the next five to 10 years.
| Read more: ODOT proposals for Rt. 37 corridor include roundabouts and turn lanes to improve safety and traffic flow
One couple who lives along Rt. 37 were relieved to see no proposal for widening, but they appreciated the idea of a roundabout at the T intersection of Rt. 37 and James Road, where traffic backs up frequently.
Another family living south of Granville worried about how the possible projects could change the look and feel of the rural area south of Granville.
“I live on Rt. 37, and I’m concerned,” said a woman who declined to give her name. “I’m concerned that it retain its rural, residential character.”
Sheidlower said ODOT officials will consider feedback from area residents who attended the open house and anyone who wishes to comment by Oct. 4 online or by phone at 614-387-4002 or mail: ODOT Central Office, Attention Erin Scheidlower, 1980 W. Broad St., Columbus, 43223. After considering comments, they will could make adjustments and then present a final plan to local officials before announcing a decision on a particular route as the priority for the next step, which is a feasibility study by the end of this year.
“That’s one thing I didn’t see here today – how much all of this will cost,” said Theresa Kucsma, who lives on Gale Road.
When ODOT gets the cost estimate for the chosen route, it will seek funding for the projects along that route.
Alan Miller writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.