Marietta City Council will be deciding shortly the future of the heavily used intersection at Seventh, Greene and Pike Streets. The Marietta City Engineering Department and a Columbus consulting engineering firm are advocating a $3.26 million redevelopment of the intersection to decrease traffic crashes and to improve traffic flow the busy intersection.
The design process has been under way since 2009 for a project that is planned for construction finishing in 2015.
I am encouraging all Marietta city residents and others who use the intersection to make sure they are familiar with the plans and to offer their thoughts to Marietta City Council, Marietta City Engineering Department and the Marietta City Administration prior to council's streets and transportation committee meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29. A decision about the plan more than likely will be made at that meeting.
People have the opportunity to view the Seventh, Greene and Pike street plans at the website www.pikegreene7th.com or by viewing Marietta City's website and the engineering department's link to the project design at www.mariettaoh.net.
I hope to have color and black and white drawings of the plans for viewing at Norwood United Methodist Church during that church's community Thanksgiving dinner.
The plan being considered is described as the best alternative that has been considered, planned and studied over the past three years. The intersection plans are being developed in conjunction with redesign of the Pike, Acme and Jefferson streets intersection next year and future redesign of the Williamstown Bridge and Fifth Street intersection.
Anyone interested in having input in the Seventh, Greene and Pike streets design needs to do it now rather than later.
I personally believe Marietta will be a stronger and more vibrant city if more citizens become involved in the "ownership" of the government and decisions that are made by Marietta City Council.
Roger Kalter, 1st Ward
Marietta City Council
