City officials explicitly said in their contract with Contractor of West Union Street Infrastructure Improvements project that no construction is to take place on October 11, during OU’s Homecoming Parade.
Ohio University’s Homecoming Parade is scheduled to proceed up West Union Street, the same day road construction is expected to end along the route.
Construction on West Union has been extensive and has included lane closings and drastic aesthetic changes. But depending on which city official you ask, the work could go on for another two weeks or possibly more than a month after the Homecoming Parade on Oct. 11.
York Paving Company, the contracted company, will complete the work on Oct. 11, said Athens’ Engineering and Public Works Project Manager, who wanted to remain unnamed.
Mayor Paul Wiehl expects differently.
“It’s supposed to be finished around early November,” he said.
Even if there is work left unfinished, Wiehl said it won’t conflict with the floats and fanfare.
Wiehl said the city set a “shutout date” where the construction will be put on pause, and no construction will take place that day.
“Most of the project is supposed to be done by then,” he said.
The Project Manager added that “the contract specifically excludes the contractor from impacting vehicular or pedestrian traffic on Oct. 11.”
But the source still expects the work to wrap up before then.
“The city set the completion date for the street work so that the construction would not interfere with the Homecoming parade,” the Project Manager said in an email.
Wiehl also added the street will be clear of tools and equipment essential to the project.
“The street will be mostly navigable,” Wiehl said. “... It’ll be interesting to see how they navigate the roundabout.”
Brian Heilmeier, head of OU’s Homecoming Committee said he’s talked to Deputy Service-Safety Director Ron Lucas and expects to hear regular updates from city officials until the date of the parade.
But he still isn’t sure what exactly will happen when the first float trudges up West Union Street in mid-October. He declined to comment any further.
OU’s Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones added that she hadn’t heard any concerns about construction interfering with the parade.
After completing the roundabout this summer and connecting water lines from the north side of the street to clients on the south side last weekend, contractors still have work to do, including improvements to the stormwater system, sidewalk and curb replacements and a few remaining waterline tie-ins.
Multiple lane closures will continue throughout the course of the project, which may cost more than $1.3 million, according to a previous Post report. The parade route was moved from Court Street to West Union street two years ago, according to a previous Post report.
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