Sunbury eyes mountable curb and radius adjustments at SR 37, Morning/Granville; staff pitched project for OPWC funding

City staff told the Services Committee Oct. 1 that a frequently damaged 90‑degree corner where State Route 37 meets Morning and Granville streets is a high‑priority repair candidate and suggested the city pursue OPWC funding for an improvement that could include a milder turn radius and reinforced mountable curb.

Staff said semi‑truck turning maneuvers routinely overrun the curb and sidewalk; the project concept shown to the committee included a slightly softened turning curve, mountable curb similar to roundabout treatments and other intersection safety upgrades such as improved crosswalk placement and sidewalk repairs. “Improvements to this intersection…can be, of course, the adjusting the radius, looking at mountable curb, but also any other improvements at the intersection related to safety,” the staff member said.

Staff reported that a reviewer (identified as VerDantas in the presentation) considered this corner likely to score well for OPWC, and the packet flagged this intersection as the top candidate among the projects staff suggested for OPWC consideration. Committee members asked why the city would pay for a fix on a state route; a former village administrator in the room explained that when Sunbury transitioned from village to city the maintenance responsibilities for state routes through the city shifted, and state routing constraints and legal tradeoffs prevent the simple rerouting of truck traffic onto nearby county roads.

Staff emphasized that the city is seeking design analysis rather than immediate construction funding and asked the committee to allow the consultant to study mountable curb options and intersection geometry. No formal appropriation or contract was approved; the committee discussed the idea and the staff‑recommended OPWC application but did not take a vote.