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Athens council advances Route 682/56 roundabout project but residents press for sidewalk extension to Kershaw Green
Summary
Council introduced an ordinance to advertise bids for a roundabout at Route 682 and Route 56; council members and residents urged design changes to extend sidewalks toward Kershaw Green and address pedestrian safety.
Council Member Spiales introduced an ordinance to advertise for bids and contracts for the Route 682/56 intersection improvement project, a proposed roundabout intended to improve traffic flow and pedestrian crossings at a frequently used corridor.
The measure was given a first reading; council and members of the public used the session to press for design changes, primarily an extension of sidewalks to better serve residents of nearby Kershaw Green. "I have supported the Route 60 Two-fifty 6 roundabout from the beginning with two stipulations," Council Member Spiales said, adding that those conditions were adequate traffic maintenance during construction and sidewalks where pedestrians need them.
The ordinance authorizes the Service Safety Director to advertise and accept bids for project number 357. Mayor Clodfelter and members of council discussed that the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is the principal funding and technical partner and that project scope was shaped by the application submitted to the agency. Council members asked whether portions of the proposed sidewalk alignment could be flipped or adjusted so the walking route reaches Kershaw Green residents rather than following the currently designed alignment toward Whites Mill.
Public speakers described safety risks on the existing corridor. John Molinaro, speaking for the University Homeowners Association, said the most dangerous stretch is the narrow shoulder adjacent to ODOT property and asked council to prioritize the final few hundred feet of sidewalk: "If we can get that hundred feet taken care of, we can probably cure 80 percent of the risk in that area," he said. Andrew Gudarelli, a member of the city task force on pedestrian accessibility, said he "strongly support[s] changing the intersection to a roundabout" but urged sidewalks in all four directions and ADA-compliant connections to nearby neighborhoods.
Council members asked the administration to obtain cost estimates for extending sidewalk work toward Kershaw Green and to continue discussions with ODOT and other funders about potential scope adjustments. The mayor said shifting sidewalk alignment or requesting a supplementary project is worth exploring but cautioned that grants and ODOT funding are tied to the original application and that a separate application or additional funding might be required. Council Member Swank asked the administration to provide a rough cost estimate to inform whether reallocating funds or seeking additional grants is feasible.
No final decision was made tonight; the ordinance received a first reading and will return for subsequent readings where council can vote on awarding contracts after bids are received and the administration provides the requested cost and engineering clarifications.
The discussion included references to private-property constraints and railroad easements that could affect sidewalk routing; council asked staff to document those constraints and return with responses ahead of second and third readings.
Ending: Council members said they want the roundabout built but want clearer evidence that the design will prioritize pedestrian safety near Kershaw Green; staff will seek estimates and continue coordination with ODOT and the railroad before council acts on final award.
