News

Preliminary Construction to Begin This Week for Richland South Project


Posted on:

< < Back to preliminary-construction-to-begin-this-week-for-richland-south-project

Shelly and Sands, the contractor for the Richland Avenue South Improvements Project, will be completing preliminary construction activities for the project throughout this week. The preliminary construction activities include mobilizing to the site, setting up erosion and sediment control, and setting up maintenance of traffic devices. Some of the work is weather dependent.

The Richland Avenue South Improvements Project will reconstruct Richland Avenue between Dairy Lane and Canterbury Drive. The improvements include a section of waterline replacement, sanitary sewer lining, storm system improvements, installation of decorative lighting, upgrading the Richland/Hooper signal, replacing the curbing and sidewalks, adding dedicated bike lanes to the street, and re-paving the street. Select sidewalk improvements will be completed on Richland Avenue between Canterbury Drive and Pomeroy Road, and a new section of sidewalk will be installed on Hooper Street.

Clavin construction 1 small
Workers begin renovating the road in front of D.P. Dough. Photo by Mark Clavin/WOUB.

The project will be managed in phases. During each phase, the contractor will maintain residential, business, pedestrian, and emergency traffic.

– Phase 1 (work on the east side of the street which includes a section of new waterline, sanitary sewer lining, sanitary sewer relocation, storm sewer installation, decorative lighting, sidewalks, and new pavement) is scheduled to occur between early March and late May. Frontier, Time Warner Cable, and AEP utility relocations will be occurring in conjunction with the contractor’s work.

During Phase 1, northbound traffic will use the center lane of Richland Avenue and the east sidewalk will be closed.

– Phase 2 (work on the west side of the street which includes storm sewer installation, decorative lighting, sidewalks, and new pavement) is scheduled to occur between late May to early August. Frontier, Time Warner Cable, and AEP utility relocations will be occurring in conjunction with the Contractor’s work.

During Phase 2, northbound traffic returns to the northbound lane and southbound traffic will use the center lane of Richland Avenue. The west sidewalk will be closed.

– Phase 3 work includes final paving and permanent striping and is scheduled to occur early August and be completed prior to Ohio University Move-In.

Clavin construction 2
Traffic will be affected while construction occurs. Photo by Mark Clavin/WOUB.

As part of this project, Shelly and Sands will be employing a community liaison to assist the contractor with maintenance of traffic, coordination of driveway work, and utility work.

This significant improvement project has been in planning and design since 2011 and is funded through the city of Athens, and the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Safety Program, Small Cities Program, and Transportation Alternatives Program.

Questions or concerns may be directed to the city of Athens Engineering and Public Works Department, 593-7636. Regular project updates will be available on the City of Athens webpage: www.ci.athens.oh.us.