City Engineer Brian Ball informed the Mount Vernon City Council on Monday night that staff members are gathering input from local businesses in preparation for a road improvement project at the North Sandusky Street intersection with Upper Fredericktown Road at Cassell Road.
"We’re asking for money to work through the planning process and come up with probably five or six alternatives on how to fix the intersection, grade those, and then there will be once we get that, that’s where the public involvement will kind of go in pretty deep," Ball said according to a video recording of the July 28 meeting.
Ball reminded council members about a previous Edgewood Road project. After receiving funding from the Central Ohio Rural Planning Organization (CORPO), voters expressed opposition, leading to its cancellation and the return of funds. This marks a new application for CORPO funding.
Ball noted an increasing number of crashes at the intersection. The city has also received requests to extend sidewalks to Clarence Court and other areas. He mentioned motorists taking risks by passing cars at stop signs, resulting in accidents when another vehicle is traveling north. Turn signals are often not used when following State Road 13 (SR 13), which curves, creating confusion as drivers proceed straight onto Upper Fredericktown Road.
Ball said that construction could begin as early as 2029. A roundabout is a possibility, designed to accommodate large combines and full-size trucks.
He has discussed the project with Knox County Engineer Cameron Keaton, who is supportive. The city plans to meet with Knox County Commissioners for partnership discussions. Clinton Township has already passed a resolution to partner in the project. The city council approved staff authorization to apply for CORPO funding ahead of the August 8 deadline.
