Improvements will be made at the railroad crossing not too far from the Fairfield Logistics Center on Seward at the Fairfield/Fairfield Twp. border.
The work includes adding pavement on either side of the railroad crossing so the approach and descent will be less steep, said Greg Kathman, Fairfield’s director of development services. The shoulders of the road will also be widened.
“The improvements will benefit all users of the Seward Road corridor,’’ said Nathaniel Kaelin, the city’s economic development manager.
“It will advance economic development and improve the Seward Road corridor at the same time.”
The state grants are expected to pay about 83 percent of the project, estimated to cost $537,000. Developer Al. Neyer RE LLC is contributing $55,000 to the construction cost as well as paying for design and engineering work. Remaining costs would be paid by Fairfield, Kaelin said.
“There’s been a lot of construction work on that stretch of Seward – we know it will be inconvenient (for motorists),” Kathman said.
“These improvements weren’t in the original plans. We’re getting a significant amount of money to do this work.”
In conjunction with the work around the railroad crossing, two previously planned, back-to-back curves will be straightened on Seward and a left turn lane into the soon-to-be constructed industrial building at the southwest corner of Seward and Tylersville roads, will be added. Hit Promotional Products plans to lease 800,000 square feet of space in the new building.
Previous improvements included the widening of Seward to three lanes near the industrial park, completed a year ago. The phase consisted of construction of the recently opened roundabout at the corner of Seward and Tylersville roads.
The project is expected to be bid late this winter or early spring 2025 with construction work beginning next summer and finishing by late fall 2025, Kaelin said.
About the Author