“It just makes sense that we didn’t want a patchwork of asphalt along that major boulevard in our city, so we took the opportunity to negotiate that with ODOT, and they were very willing to work with us on that,” said Hamilton Director of Engineering Rich Engle.
Because the city requested ODOT pave the section of Pyramid Hill Drive between the two planned repaving sections, they had to enter into a new agreement, known as a Local Public Agency Agreement.
In October, Engle presented the ODOT project to City Council saying there are two portions that have combined Hamilton/ODOT delineation. These two areas are a short section just south of the Columbia Bridge and a section farther south at the city’s southern corporation limit.
This ODOT project is expected to be awarded in February, so construction would take place in the summer and fall of 2024, said ODOT spokesperson Kathleen Fuller. The $5.3 million project is more than 11 miles in scope, starting at New Haven Road in Hamilton County and ending at New London Road/Pershing Avenue in Hamilton. About 1.24 miles of the project is in the city of Hamilton (from near Flamingo Drive to Pershing Avenue).
Fuller said the target for completion will be in November, but that timeline is dependent on the bidding process.
Engle said the concrete work was planned to be completed ahead of the ODOT project, in particular the ADA-compliant ramps.
“We’re already out there working with the contractor taking care of the concrete work and making sure we have the appropriate ADA-compliant handicapped ramps,” he said. “We’re also working on New London Road, working with the same contractor as well, removing that grassy median and restoring with a hardscape median and extending the turn lane.”
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