Warm weather ushers in roadwork on Ohio 541 inside city

COSHOCTON – Orange cones, heavy equipment and road crews wearing hard hats and safety vests will become even more visible in the days ahead as construction along Ohio 541 kicks into high gear.

The Shelly Co., of Thornville, is repairing and resurfacing 4.9 miles of Ohio 541 through Coshocton at a cost of $2.1 million, according to Ericka Pfeifer, spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Transportation, District Five.

The work will extend 4.9 miles, from the western corporation limit to the southeastern line. It will also include the portions of Third Street, Walnut Street and Cambridge Road designated as Ohio 541.

Work began in April on installing storm water catch basins and curb ramps, according to Coshocton Public Works Director Jim Ruby.

Pavement repair for stretches where the road has “delaminated or failed” should begin Monday, Ruby said. Milling should start by June 3 or 4, he said. Resurfacing with three separate asphalt courses will follow.

The contractors hope to repair and resurface the entire length of the state route through Coshocton by Aug. 14, weather permitting, Ruby said.

By contract, the work must be finished by Oct. 31, Pfeifer said.

ODOT is overseeing the project and paying for 80 percent of the resurfacing and striping costs. The city will cover the remaining 20 percent of that work, but 100 percent of the curb ramps and catch basins, according to Coshocton Safety-Service Director Jerry Stenner.

This week, workers have targeted two stretches of Ohio 541 on the Cambridge Road portion. Separate crews are removing the railroad tracks north and south of the New York Deli, and correcting drainage problems, fixing a slip in the road and a replacing guardrail just north of Skyline Heights.

The Ohio Central Railroad is removing the tracks, according to OCR Road Master Jerry Klein.

Resurfacing will follow at both of those spots as part of the larger project.

Traffic will be maintained during most of the work, Ruby said, but small sections could occasionally be closed for short periods. In general, the contractor likes to start on the western edge and proceed eastward, he said, but that plan is subject to change.

jwilliams6@coshoctontribune.com

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