Avon-North Ridgeville roundabout unveiled

After three months of anticipation, the new AvonNorth Ridgeville roundabout at state route 83 and Mills Road has been completed.

The cities of Avon and North Ridgeville celebrated the completion of the project with a ribbon cutting on Oct. 3 complete with a ceremonial first ride in a blue convertible with mayors G. David Gillock of North Ridgeville and Bryan Jensen of Avon.

The $1.2 million project was made possible through a collaborative effort between the cities of Avon and North Ridgeville along with Columbus-based engineering firm American Structurepoint and construction contractor KMU Trucking and Excavating.

The project was funded in part with $700,000 in assistance from the Ohio Public Works Commission with Avon and North Ridgeville each contributing $250,000.

The new roundabout has been in the works since 2014 after the Ohio Department of Transportation released a study suggesting a roundabout would increase traffic flow in the heavily traveled area. After the intersection was shut down on July, 31 officials gathered to celebrate the regional cooperation following nearly 60 days of construction.

“When I became a councilman and first started, I talked to Tom Demaline from Willoway (Nurseries) and said the first thing I was going to work on was the improvement of Mills Road and 83, and that was almost 15 years ago. We certainly are proud to get this done and it’s been a partnership,” Jensen said.

Jensen also thanked his wife in providing some creative motivation for the project.

“At the time we sat over at that intersection she told me that was the dumbest thing she ever saw. If that’s not motivation to make sure this works I don’t know what is,” he said.

In a Sept. 21 release by American Structurepoint, the project was praised by officials from both cities highlighting the close partnership and commitment to improvement traffic flow and reducing accidents.

“This is an absolutely beautiful project that shows what can happen when communities work together to improve an intersection that straddles the borders of both cities,” Gillock said. “Not only does it provide for efficient movement of traffic across our communities, but the benefits of a cleaner environment add an increased quality of life to our citizens.”

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL State Senator Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, says a few words during a ceremony officially opening the roundabout at the intersection of Mills Road and state Route 83, Oct. 3. Manning said she is well familiar with roundabouts, due to her travels...