Weather and other complications have pushed the projected completion date of the Ohio 7 widening project between Marietta and Reno from October to next spring, officials said this week.
"We are getting to that critical stage where it looks like some of the work is going to be forced into the winter months," said Steve Williams, Ohio Department of Transportation District 10 construction engineer in Marietta. "And a lot of that is work that cannot be completed (in cold weather)."
Paving is just one example of construction work that is limited during cold months.
Williams said several work days were lost to rain and at least 15 days were lost to utility delays.
"Most of the utility delays involved underground gas and water lines we had to deal with," Williams said. "It hasn't affected the overall completion of the project, though."
The two-year, $14.5 million project was awarded last fall to Shelly & Sands. The entire project covers about 3.75 miles of highway, but includes the most congested traffic area in Washington County.
The first phase of the project (Interstate 77 to Sandhill Road) was scheduled to be completed by October. There was a $150,000 bonus in the contract for the work to be completed on time.
A similar incentive is in place for Phase 2, which runs from Reno north to the Dimex building. That phase of the project was set to begin next spring and be completed by October 2009.
That phase could also be delayed now, Williams said.
"With the weather and other delays, it doesn't look like those incentives will be achieved," he said. "Right now, it looks like we'll get about 60 percent to 70 percent of Phase I completed this year and come back and finish it early next year."
Although there were some major traffic delays recently due to construction near Reno including work to widen the Reno bridge, no further traffic delays are anticipated in the immediate future, Wilson said.
Over the winter months, there should be even fewer delays.
Brett Weekley, an employee at Family Ford, said everyone is anxious for the project to wrap up.
"The worst part about it is just never knowing what traffic is going to be like," Weekley said. "Some days I can get right through. Other days I might sit and sit."
News that the first phase of the project will not be done until spring is not welcomed by daily commuters like Nick Lauer of Newport.
"I hate it, but it really hasn't affected business," said Lauer, manager of CiCi's Pizza, 231 Captain D. Seeley MIA Drive. "Here's my thing. When they are doing night construction, they must have old reflectors on the cones because they are not reflecting. It's confusing and the road is not marked well."
Lauer, who has been commuting to Marietta for 27 years, said during the day there are fewer traffic delays for him than at night.
"I was delayed 40 minutes one night," he said. "They are good about (the) message board telling you of delays or projects underway during the day. I appreciate that."
It's prime garden sales season for Russ Thomson, owner of Thomson's Landscaping on Ohio 7, but he's still not complaining about dust and delays on the road.
"I hate to see that they are behind. The project does hurt business and slowed it down, but they are trying hard to do the best they can do," he said. "My thought is the project managers have bent over backwards to help us out."
At the times of worst congestion, construction workers even helped direct customer traffic in and out of his business, Thomson said.
"We're all in this together. They've really stepped up for us," he said.
"I'm really excited about the project. Route 7 will be the next Grand Central Avenue," he said, referring to the heavy commercial route in Vienna, W.Va.
There have been inquiries from major retailers and rumors of others coming in when the road is completed, Thomson said.
This longtime business owner's only issue is people who try to avoid the slowdown on Ohio 7 by cutting through the parking lots at Wal-Mart and Lowe's.
"It's screwing up the light at County House Lane and backing things up all the way back," he said. "Just wait your turn."
The Ohio Highway Patrol, located just north of Reno, has its own problems getting through construction every day, but also helps contractors deal with difficult moments.
"Sometimes we have extra patrolmen in there when there is a difficult move being done," said patrol Sgt. Todd McDonald. "But mostly, we're just trying to get through like everybody else."
The officer said drivers need to quit watching construction so much and pay more attention to driving.
"You need to expect long delays getting through there from time to time," he said. "The timing on the lights has changed, so be aware of that."
There are business owners along the Ohio 7 corridor who are disgusted, disgruntled, and downright frustrated with the construction project, but are keeping it to themselves. One asked that his name not be used, and two others refused to comment.
Barb Conant, who drives residents of The Inn at Marietta to and from town for appointments and shopping every day, said that it would have been better if the project was done in October, but she can live with the construction.
"It's not what I expected," Conant said. "I was thinking long, long delays. It's better than I expected it to be. I've never been delayed more than 10 or 15 minutes."
