Delaware County awards intersection and watershed contracts; SR 3/Lewis Center Road project set to start in spring

The Delaware County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 6 approved two construction contracts covering a State Route 3/Lewis Center Road intersection improvement and the Slate Lick Watershed drainage project.

Rob Riley, chief deputy engineer, said the SR 3/Lewis Center Road contract (Resolution 25-803) will add turn lanes and install a traffic signal at the intersection. The low bid matched the engineer's estimate at $4,489,000. Riley said traffic on State Route 3 will be maintained while widening work proceeds sequentially; the east leg of the intersection will need periodic closure and a large culvert will be replaced. Construction was expected to begin in May with a target completion in October, subject to weather and other conditions.

"I think this will be a very important project for this part of the county," Riley said, citing a history of crash problems at the intersection and saying the turn lanes and signal will "go a long way towards making that a more functional and and safer intersection."

The board also awarded Resolution 25-804 to Enviro Construction Company LLC for the Slate Lick Watershed Drainage Improvement Project. County staff described Slate Lick as roughly a 53-acre watershed involving multiple parcels in Brown and Kingston townships; the low bid was at or near the engineer's estimate. The project covers drainage improvements across approximately 10 parcels (as described by staff) and is intended to address localized drainage issues in the watershed.

Both resolutions passed unanimously (Jeff Benton, Barb Lewis, Gary Merrill).