Newark plans bike path extension, Church Street widening projects

Kent Mallett
Newark Advocate
Newark Municipal Building.

NEWARK -- City Council will consider three resolutions to improve travel in the city at Monday night's meeting.

The legislation would allow the city to extend the bike path along the north side of Granville Road to North 21st Street, widen Church Street from 29th Street to Green Wave Drive and replace two deficient bridges over Log Pond Run.

The bike path would be extended almost a mile from the Newark campus of Ohio State University and Central Ohio Technical College to North 21st Street.

The cost of the path extension project is about $500,000, with the city paying 20% and Licking County Area Transportation Study paying 80%.

City Councilman Jonathan Lang, R-4th Ward, said he has been encouraging the city to make bike path connections and extensions whenever possible and affordable.

"I'm really excited to be able to connect OSU to 21st Street," Lang said. "I think this meets a real need. I've spoken to some OSU students. Anytime we can connect the university, to expand how students can travel, and help them getting more integrated to the community is good."

City Engineer Brian Morehead told council construction on the path extension will not occur until 2023-24, but the legislation is needed to move forward with design work.

Council's Service Committee approved the bike path extension and Church Street widening projects at its July 20 meeting, passing the legislation to the full council to consider.

Morehead told the committee, "A few years ago, we did the intersection of 30th and Church over to 29th Street; widening it, curb and gutter and storm sewer. And now, this will make the connection between there and Green Wave Drive."

Construction on the $1 million Church Street project is slated for 2023-24, with LCATS paying 80% of the cost. The city's 20% share will be paid from license plate permissive tax and storm water utility funds.

The committee also approved replacing bridges over Log Pond Run on Moull and Jefferson streets with larger culverts. Council will consider the proposal Monday night.

The cost of the bridge replacements is estmated at $1.25 million, using municipal bridge funding through the Ohio Department of Transportation. Construction will occur in 2023-24.

Another road project, resurfacing of Blue Jay Road in the cities of Newark and Heath, will be put out to bid. The cities appropved a cooperative agreement on the project in March.

In Newark, the project extends from Second Street to the city's corporation line. Newark's share is $5,000.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8545

Twitter: @kmallett1958