ODOT adjusts barricades to keep trucks away from Route 13 project

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The Ohio Department of Transportation has adjusted barricades on Route 13 to keep trucks away from construction. | Courtesy

MOUNT VERNON – The Ohio Department of Transportation made adjustments to the barricades and signs at North Sandusky Street for the Route 13 construction project so trucks will stop trying to drive through or get stuck trying to turn around.

Mayor Matt Starr said there was a bit of confusion with trucks, so these adjustments should be an improvement.

The work between Franklin and James streets begins daily at 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, with Fridays and Saturdays as needed for the road-widening work. The southbound lane will be closed with a detour, and the northbound lane will be maintained.

Parks

On Wednesday, Mount Vernon will hold its parks planning sessions with MKC Architects of Powell. Three open public sessions will be at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Each session will be at City Hall in the council chambers.

The purpose is to understand current and future needs of the city’s parks, Starr said in a letter inviting Recreation Board members, City Council members and city residents to the planning sessions. Parking, restrooms, stormwater management, recreational programs and equipment and use of park space and facilities are possible topics that may be discussed with the consultants.

“If you can’t make it, what we’ll also do is send out an electronic survey to anybody who wants to complete that. We'll have that available for citizens to weigh in,” Starr said.

Engineering

The city will hold a “trifecta” of ceremonies today starting with a groundbreaking for the Columbus Road intersection improvement, Starr said.

“We are also doing the official ribbon cutting for the bike path underpass at South Main Street Bridge. And then we're also giving tours of the Kokosing River Restoration Project,” he said.

 Streets

The city started painting parking spots and white lines on North Gay Street and North Mulberry Street, Starr said.

“We did have a traffic signal hit on Martinsburg Road sometime over the weekend,” he said.

The traffic signal was repaired and restored the next day.

Flashing lights at the crosswalk on High Street by Riverside Park. A contractor will install new rapid flashing beacons.

“They're pedestrian-activated, and they are much greater visibility with them,” Starr said.

The new pedestrian crosswalk beacons will be the same as those installed by the St. Vincent DePaul School, the Knox County Services Center, on Blackjack Road and by the Mount Vernon Avenue Bridge.

A couple of trees went down during the storm on July 7 and were cleaned up. No significant damage occurred.

“Our street department’s been out grading the alleys between the rainstorms. We had quite a bit of rain but they've been out and they're grading the alleys so they're passable,” Starr said.

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