Ohio 7 job runs behind

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Ohio 7 facts

Formed: 1924.

Length: 337 miles.

South end: U.S. 52 near Chesapeake.

North end: Ohio 531 at Conneaut.

Note: Ohio 7 passes through Lawrence, Gallia, Meigs, Athens, Washington, Monroe, Belmont, Jefferson, Columbiana, Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties.

Source: Wikipedia.

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."

Member Comments

View Comments: | 1-21 | Post a comment

Darby1952
06-26-08 5:43 PM »Report Abuse	never thought you were dumb Harley,,, just opinionated..... plus we both ride, so we aren't to bad
Darby1952
06-26-08 5:37 PM »Report Abuse	LOL,,, thanks for the compliment
MrWilson
06-26-08 4:08 PM »Report Abuse	Harleyrider...be patient with Darby. After all, it's hard for him to come down off of his lofty 'intellectual' perch to converse with us mere Joe-Citizens.
Harleyrider
06-26-08 3:16 PM »Report Abuse	Darby1952, thanks for admitting the error. I am far from as dumb as you think I am.
Harleyrider
06-26-08 3:14 PM »Report Abuse	Darby1952, yep makes sense not set them up to help traffic at this time. what brilliant thinking. Wish I was that smart.
Darby1952
06-26-08 3:14 PM »Report Abuse	I stand corrected on Capt. Seely Dr. It does connect to Cogswell.
Darby1952
06-26-08 3:09 PM »Report Abuse	Harley,, the lights are temporary and are individually timed. They are not operating off of traffic call loops yet... but you should know that, you wrote the book on engineering and construction techniques.
Indian
06-26-08 1:58 PM »Report Abuse	The project has been delayed by the city getting the right a ways, the project is delayed by weather, the project will probably delayed for who knows what else. Very much expected.
MrWilson
06-26-08 1:26 PM »Report Abuse	I find it hard to believe that they are already forecasting delays due to "weather" and other things. When contractors work out their schedules (Gantt charts) prior to starting projects like this they automatically build in "padding" to the deadlines for things such as bad weather, supply deliveries, etc. I think the scheduling could have been done a little better on this project. And as for the 2 traffic lights at the Wal Mart, HarleyRider is right...they are a joke. Come on. I know we have some smart engineers out there...fix this problem and keep the public's best interest at heart when doing so.
Harleyrider
06-26-08 11:24 AM »Report Abuse	The traffic lights they have installed at Wal_Mart are a joke already. They put 2 new ones in and they go to the turn arrows 1st. It is funny because nobody is turning. It backs the traffic up quite nicely in the morning coming from the interstate. The wonderful insight of those engineers at work. I did find out that eventually they will install the duckbills where the sewers flow into the creeks.
MT1234
06-26-08 11:04 AM »Report Abuse	It's just going to be a four lane parking lot instead of three. People don't drive the speed limit, don't know how to use the turn lanes, and there will be a few more untimed traffic lights to add to the chaos.
washcoresident
06-26-08 10:53 AM »Report Abuse	I would think downtown will appreciate the traffic and possible business when the Wash. St bridge is closed. Seems pretty quiet down there most of the time anyway. If Rt 7 does beocme the next Grand Central Ave, which I feel will happen, then downtown won't matter anyway. What a mess this has all become. No planning ahead in this area.
Parrothead
06-26-08 10:31 AM »Report Abuse	Wait till next year when the Washington Street Bridge is closed. You think traffic is bad out on Rt. 7, just wait and see what downtown will be like. Does anyone believe that they are going to have the Washington Bridge done, a complete deck replacement with girder repair, in 60 days? What a joke!
Harleyrider
06-26-08 10:22 AM »Report Abuse	Yeah, gotta hand it to those engineers. They are really smart. Remember that we are talking about the same people that deemed the clear cutting on up 7 was the smart thing to do. We all know how that turned out. Just wait til this mess is finished. That divider down the middle won't screw things up at all. lol
Finallap
06-26-08 10:18 AM »Report Abuse	20 years ago when Rt 7 was upgraded to 3 lanes...Everyone said a 4 lane was needed because of all the development going on that are..The state said there wasn't going be any need for a 4 lane..Pretty dang smart aren't thay
REALLYDISTURBED
06-26-08 10:08 AM »Report Abuse	It might be public, but that doesn't make it smart
REALLYDISTURBED
06-26-08 10:07 AM »Report Abuse	Harleyrider why don't you get your arse out there and help them work nights and weekends.I agree with Darby1952, with the the traffic this area sees, they are not doing to bad.
Harleyrider
06-26-08 10:04 AM »Report Abuse	Hate to break this to you darby, but there is in fact a PUBLIC street that runs right on thru.
Darby1952
06-26-08 9:49 AM »Report Abuse	You are wrong newsnut,,,,,, this is a lump sum contrat, the contractor gets paid what he bid, the incentive was only if he got done ahead of schedule. he actually can lose money. I do this work in and around Columbus for a living, trust me there is nothing to gain from having to winter out a job. As for days they could work, when it is muddy, you can't do earth work, even if it is sunny the next day or so...... lastly, the connector between Wal-Mart and Lowes is private property, only the streets back to the lots are public. I love all the armchair engineering that people do. For the traffic count, this project is handled rather well.
Harleyrider
06-26-08 9:32 AM »Report Abuse	I have seen way too many days that they were not working. I also notice that nights and weekends are rarely used either. I am quite sure that they could get done on time if they were to push a little harder. The planning of this project is not very good. It seems they can go all day without blocking the road until about 5pm, then they have to cause major backups. And I have something to say to Russ Thompson, why not use Wal-Mart and Lowes? They are public streets running thru there. The problem is not the light at County House anyway. The problem is, and will continue to be, the 2 lights for Wal-Mart.
newsnut
06-26-08 9:01 AM »Report Abuse	Did anyone think it would be done on time. They will make more than the 150K by working till spring.

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