Safety study approved for Guernsey County roadways

Rick Stillion, The Daily Jeffersonian
·2 min read
Paul Sherry
Paul Sherry

Guernsey County residents will see crews conducting a safety study on paved county roads this year after commissioners recentlyapproved a $48,600 agreement with MasterMind LLC to complete the work.

The company specializes in 360-degree high definition mobile video mapping, GIS integration, and traffic safety studies to help government agencies and engineering departments with the maintenance and management of their traffic assets.

The study was requested by Engineer Paul Sherry for the Guernsey County Highway Department.

"This is the first step in a county-wide effort to clear and maintain the right-of-ways along those county roads and keep them safe," said Sherry. "The study will enable us to identify encroachment and safety issues within the Guernsey County highway corridor.

"We will then be able to remove, repair or correct those safety issues," added Sherry.

The study will be 90% funded by a federal grant obtained through the County Engineer's Association of Ohio and 10% by a local match.

The resolution approved by commissioners states the grant will pay $43,740 while the county covers the $4,860 match from motor vehicle gas tax revenue.

Sherry said the typical county road is 60-feet wide and over time nature and residents place items in the right-of-way along the rural roadways.

"The Ohio Department of Transportation has within the right-of-way, a 15-foot clear safety distance from the edge of the pavement," said Sherry. "There are a lot of trees including those planted by people, fences and sometimes garages or vehicles that have been abandoned over time, that end up in those right-of-ways."

MasterMind LLC will drive the routes with vehicle equipped to collect data and images that will give the county highway department an aerial view to identify the safety issues.

The Delaware-based company is scheduled to complete the study by Oct. 17.

"Once the study gives us the necessary data and information to correct those issues, we will pursue in-house funding and other funding through the CEAO to get the work that is needed done," said Sherry.

There are approximately 220 miles of paved county roads in Guernsey County.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Safety study approved for Guernsey County roadways