News
Stimson Avenue Construction Project Progressing
By: David Lee
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Construction crews say they are on track to open the new roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 33 and Stimson Avenue by mid-July and reconnect McKinley Avenue with Stimson a month later.
Construction is aimed to ease traffic and fix storm and sewage blockage in the area.
According to the Athens City website, crews are currently working on efforts to install the new storm water system, grading work around the future roundabout, and clearing work along McKinley Avenue to continue into next week.
“Grading the stone, making concrete pavement, and completing the storm drainage could take about 15 days,” said Tyler Hamm, a foreman on-site for Freedom Construction Inc.
Crews say the tight timeline and summer weather conditions are some of the biggest obstacles facing the project.
“The time constraint is due to the school,” said Nate Worthington, Vice-President of Freedom Construction Inc. “[The city and the university] wants all their construction work done between May 1 and August 15.”
A year-old corporation, Freedom Construction Inc. won the public bid against two other competing contractors to complete the multi-road construction project.
Laura Kreider, Athens Deputy Auditor, wrote in an email that the entire construction project would cost $2,205,650.
“Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will provide $600,000 through two different programs – an ARC grant and its Jobs and Commerce program, $300,000 will come from Ohio Development Services, $750,000 from Ohio University, and the city of Athens will pay $555,650,” wrote Kreider.