SOLON, Ohio -- Responding to a motorist’s complaint about the state of the construction zone at SOM Center and Aurora roads, Mayor Ed Kraus said that Monday was a relatively light day, with only six phone calls and emails.
"It's usually more than that," Kraus noted as the city provided an update on the $6.6 million project, which could be substantially complete by the end of October to mid-November.
City Public Works Commissioner Bill Drsek added that as of Monday night (Aug. 19) all underground work appeared to be complete, with “trench restoration” commencing.
The latest casualty involved a Volkswagen Jetta being driven home about 9:30 p.m. Sunday after an extended stay at a local garage while resident Mary Jane Klarich and her family were on vacation.
Klarich told City Council Monday night that she had to return to the mechanic that morning to check on her alignment after she hit a "pothole" in the loose gravel heading south on SOM just before the Aurora intersection.
Drsek, who asked to meet with Klarich to get the problem resolved after the meeting, said that with trench restoration underway, the stones would be removed and replaced with a concrete base and an intermediate asphalt coating soon.
When the base repairs are complete, subcontractor Ronyak Paving can "mill and topcoat" the roadway, probably within three to four weeks.
"We have plenty of issues with potholes where the cuts are in the road and unfortunately, accidents happen," Drsek said, after being asked by Councilman Bob Pelunis to address the issue.
Although the trenches will be filled, there are still catch basins to be installed, as well as the actual widening of the intersection.
"This project is going to add capacity to an intersection that has none," Kraus said, adding that the junction of Routes 43 and 91 was built for a community of a few thousand.
Solon has since grown to about 24,000 residents along with 32,000 people who work in the city.
"It's a difficult project and we work every day on how to fill it and patch it," Kraus said, adding that there was still "no excuse" for any damage to Klarich's car. "Our residents have to drive over it, and it's eaten up tires."
Drsek said a final coat of asphalt could be done by mid-to-late October. In the meantime, the city has replaced sanitary sewers that date back to the 1940s, as well as “a lot of undersized storm sewers.”
In awarding the main contract, the city went with CATTS Construction of Bedford because of the amount of work that could be done at night.
This eliminated many extended daytime lane closures that could have had "a severe impact on businesses," Drsek added.
As for the lanes that remain open, “not to throw anyone under the bus, but let’s raise the level of quality here,” Klarich said.
Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.