By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com

Construction is absent from Portland Way for now, but the lull on Galion’s main north-south thoroughfare will be short lived.

Mayor Tom O’Leary explained at a press briefing on Monday that needed improvements to Portland Way North from Carter Drive to the city limits at Brandt Road are coming. The procedure will involve milling out rectangles in the pavement in both lanes and then putting in new asphalt.

Noting “patience required,” O’Leary cautioned motorists to be aware of flaggers and delays. “My guess is we (the city) will go out and do a little bit of berm repair.”

The project is a partnership initiated by the Ohio Department of Transportation. Galion will buy the materials while ODOT provides machinery and labor on the project. Galion’s share is estimated at $27,900 with the final number dependent on the depth of milling necessary.

Anticipating questions about other repairs elsewhere on Portland Way, O’Leary said the worst section currently on Portland Way North is from Heise Park to Carter Drive. He explained those repairs are scheduled for early next year.

“I think it is going to be a full depth replacement,” O’Leary said, comparing it to work done on Portland Way South.

O’Leary said there are no plans to widen Portland Way North out to Brandt Road, but did say there was an active discussion about conducting a traffic study at that intersection.

The mayor explained that the timing of repairs on Portland Way North has given the city some flexibility in its budget and will allow for some additional two-lane resurfacing on other city streets this year. O’Leary estimated the amount available at $300,000 to $400,000.

“We want to run it by (City) Council and get their buy-in,” O’Leary said.

Streets being considered for the resurfacing are Smith from 2nd to 6th, Parsons, Market Street to South Street, Fairview and North Market in the Hetrick Road area.

O’Leary said the city would like to design a bridge replacement for the Cummins Road bridge, design it the following year and complete the project the year after.