Athens is expected to accept a bid on the Richland South Project. Construction projected to begin this month.
Suggested HED: Richland Project Ready to Make Progress
A project that was supposed to take root this summer is finally finding some ground.
After not receiving any bids during the summer for construction on the Richland Avenue South project, Athens city officials announced this week they found bidders and work would likely begin this month.
The $4.8 million project will center on improving Richland Avenue between Dairy Lane and Canterbury Drive.
On Aug. 28, the city closed the bidding for the project to mull over the two offers they received. One of those bids was issued by Shelly & Sands Inc., which will likely be the company completing the project.
According to City Engineer and Director of Public Works Andy Stone, Shelly & Sands holds the lowest bid. “It’s just a matter of coordinating a meeting and having them sign a contract,” he said.
The project was originally scheduled for this summer, but it fell through because of a lack of bids, Mayor Paul Wiehl said Tuesday. The original plans required that there be room for traffic flow, even during Ohio University’s move-in weekend. He said that stipulation may have scared off contractors.
“It was just too difficult to do this,” Wiehl said of the lack of bids. “So the city had to readjust the plan and look for new bidders.”
The new start date will not be set until city officials meet with Shelly & Sands, but Stone commented that he believes the project will begin early this month.
Though the project will be beginning soon, it will be put on hold from Nov. 15 to March 1, leaving all lanes of the road open to traffic, but an unfinished street standing out in the cold.
Up until that time, though, traffic will remain flowing, Stone assured. “Most instances, two lanes will be open to traffic flow,” Stone said, “but there may be some instances at night when the traffic will be reduced to one lane.”
The project focuses on infrastructure, such as improvements to the storm system — which would remedy flash flooding that previously happened there.
According to Stone, the water line on the east side of the street dates back to the 1950s. The line, Stone continued, breaks from time to time and causes a lot of damage. That is one of the things the project intends to replace.
On the surface, workers will make improvements to public safety.
According to a safety study carried out by TEC Engineering, Inc., the area is the third highest crash location in Athens, with 39 accidents between 2007 and 2009. Aside from vehicular safety, bike lanes, curbs and sidewalks are in the works to keep pedestrians and cyclists from harm.
Stone said the current sidewalks and road pavement are deteriorating because of the large amount of traffic that has to commute through the area and the age of the street itself.
Wiehl said the city has a lot invested in improving the road.
The original estimate by the city engineer put the project in at $3,591,233.24 — well under the city’s current figure.
“This is one of the last sections of the road to fix,” said Wiehl. The project is expected to be completed in August of 2015.
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