Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council committees appropriate $300,000 ahead of OPWC grant and outline multiple street, drainage and bridge projects
Summary
The finance and service committees certified $300,000 from budget stabilization to match an anticipated Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) grant for a Granville Road/N. 20th Street intersection project and advanced a resolution (25-21) listing multiple construction projects for appropriation and bidding. Committees voted unanimously.
A resolution to appropriate $300,000 from budget stabilization to support a city intersection improvement project was approved by committee on April 7 and forwarded to the full Newark City Council.
Committee members heard that the city expects approximately $629,000 in OPWC grant funding to widen the west half of the Granville Road and North 20th Street intersection, improve the curve and add a southbound lane on North 20th Street. Officials said formal OPWC notice is expected in July and that bidding would follow; construction was anticipated roughly in the next construction season.
In the same service committee meeting, Director of Public Service Brian Morehead presented a list of planned construction projects that the administration intends to advertise or bid this year under resolution 25-21. The list includes an extreme concrete maintenance project, culvert replacement on River Road, small stormwater drainage projects, the Riverside Drive bridge replacement (coordinated with Owens Corning), the West Main Street widening adjacent to a new apartment development, City Hall and pool parking work, and sanitary sewer relocation needed for the Granville Road bridge project.
Why it matters: The appropriation serves as the city’s local match and demonstrates coordination between grant funding and municipal capital work. The project list identifies near-term projects that will move to bidding and construction and includes work that affects vehicle circulation and drainage in multiple neighborhoods.
Committee discussion and clarifications
Committee members pressed staff on signs and wayfinding near the Granville/N. 20th intersection and asked who controls some traffic signs (committee members referenced ODOT). Staff said they will continue to coordinate with relevant agencies. Morehead characterized the West Main widening as a three-lane cross section with a center turn lane and estimated construction duration for that work as roughly three months, with start potentially late 2025 or early 2026 depending on coordination.
Votes and motion
- Resolution to appropriate $300,000 for intersection work (to match an anticipated OPWC grant): Motion by Hauser; second by Barker; committee vote 5-0 to send to full council. - Resolution 25-21 (authorizing the director of public service to appropriate funds for various construction projects and to advertise bids): Motion by Merely; second by [record does not specify]; vote 5-0 in committee.
What the record does not specify
The transcript records the anticipated OPWC award amount and an expected July notification but did not include final contract amounts, exact bid schedules, or final construction start dates; staff said they will move to bid when the OPWC award is official.
Next steps
Staff will advertise projects where appropriate, return required appropriation documents to council for final approval, and coordinate sign and traffic controls with Ohio Department of Transportation where necessary.
