Resurfacings, bridge work among major 2022 road projects in Lake County

Nov. 22—Road resurfacings and bridge deck replacements were among the projects that Lake County drivers encountered in 2022, with work on many of them completed or nearing completion ahead of the new year.

The Ohio Department of Transportation worked to replace two bridge decks that pass over local freeways.

One of those projects was the replacement of the state Route 306 bridge deck, which runs over Interstate 90 along the border of Mentor and Willoughby. According to the project's ODOT web page, the work was estimated to cost $4.22 million with an expected completion date in fall 2022.

All four lanes on the bridge were open as of Nov. 21.

ODOT also worked on a bridge deck replacement for the portion of Hendricks Road in Mentor that runs over state Route 2. This project was estimated to cost $1.65 million with an expected completion date for this fall, according to its ODOT web page.

Mentor City Engineer Dave Swiger said in a Nov. 14 email that the bridge was expected to open "around mid-December."

Work on one bridge project in Wickliffe will continue for much of the new year. ODOT is replacing the Route 2 bridges that run over Worden Road. ODOT listed an estimated cost of $9.79 million and an estimated completion date in fall 2023.

"The westbound bridge is completed and normal lane configurations on SR 2 are in place through the winter," said Isaac Hunt, ODOT District 12's public information officer.. He noted that the department expects work to start on the eastbound bridge in the spring.

"Bridge replacements and deck replacements are important projects in maintaining Ohio roadways," he added. "Ohio has the second most bridges of any state in the U.S., and ODOT takes pride in our ability to keep these vital assets in good condition for the public."

Looking ahead, Hunt noted that ODOT is scheduled to begin a road-widening project on U.S. Route 20 in 2023. ODOT's annual construction guide will likely be released in late February or early March.

According to ODOT, the project has two phases, one west of Perry and Madison township line and one east of it, and the project will extend in sections from the state Route 2 ramp in Painesville Township to Hubbard Road (Route 528) in Madison Township.

Meanwhile, the Lake County Engineer's Office and the city of Mentor completed resurfacings and various other road projects in 2022.

According to county maintenance and highway engineer Ted Galuschik, the county Engineer's Office resurfaced and widened the shoulders of Lane Road in Perry Township south of U.S. Route 20. It also resurfaced Vrooman Road in Leroy Township south of Interstate 90 and Chapel Road in Madison Township between Green Road and Hubbard Road.

The Engineer's Office also worked in conjunction with the city of Painesville to resurface portions of Newell Street and Chestnut Street, he said, while it "oversaw a resurfacing project for various roads in Concord Township and Painesville Township."

Prouty Road in Concord Township will be the site of the county's main resurfacing and road widening project for 2023, Galuschik said. The Engineer's Office will also continue to work with Painesville and Concord townships on their resurfacing plans.

Aside from its work on road resurfacing, the Engineer's Office has also been involved with repairs on a portion of Madison Avenue that has been closed since May, located on the border between Painesville Township and Painesville City. Galuschik said that county officials have been working with Great Lakes Construction on a new retaining wall.

The Engineer's Office expects Madison Avenue is expected to reopen in January.

Resurfacing was also part of the $1.9 million 2022 City of Mentor Road Program, which Swiger said resurfaced 15 streets and repaired the concrete on 18. Culver Boulevard, Dartmoor Road, Headlands Road and Munson Road were among the streets that received attention.

Additional city projects received funding from the Ohio Public Works Commission, he noted. The city received loans and grants that partially covered the costs of rehabilitating Forest Road, Woodridge Lane and Market Street. The city also received partial OPWC funding for the reconstruction of Brooksdale Road.

If Mentor receives OPWC funding next year, he said that it will work on the Chillicothe Road Resurfacing Project between Mentor Avenue (Route 20) and Johnnycake Ridge Road (Route 84).

"The Chillicothe Road Resurfacing Project is currently listed on the current Ohio Public Works Commission slate as a project to be funded in 2023," Swiger said, adding, "If awarded the funding, the project would begin next fall with a late fall completion."