Cornerstone work slows

Days of soaking rain hamper efforts to do paving work.

The conclusion of nearly a year of road construction near the Wilmington Pike and Feedwire Road intersection has been delayed.

Final paving of the newly installed dedicated right turn lane from Wilmington to Feedwire and the additional northbound Wilmington lane north of Feedwire to Dille Drive has been put on hold, because of the days of soaking rain the area has encountered this week.

“Rain really hampers a lot of activities, including construction,” said Maureen Russell Hodgson, spokeswoman for the city of Centerville. “We need some dry days so that the pavement can be put down.”

Russell Hodgson said the city is hopeful the final pavement on Wilmington, which was anticipated to be finished Friday, will be layed by construction crews early next week.

City officials estimate around $3 million has been spent on the widening of both Feedwire and Wilmington Pike since construction on the Costco at the Cornerstone of Centerville began last year.

The completion of the roadwork is expected to ease traffic flow as new tenants including Cabela’s and Kroger, and new restaurants like Chick-FilA, Cheddar’s Casual Cafe, Panda Express and Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern, move into the 154 acres that make up the development near Interstate 675.

The initial phase of widening Feedwire was delayed in the fall because of cold weather, but was completed with final paving and striping several weeks ago. Despite the original delays involving the Feedwire project, the Wilmington phase of the project is ahead of schedule, Russell Hodgson said.

Another construction project on Wilmington at I-675 is expected to begin later this summer, and will add space in both turn lanes to the entrance ramps of the highway. An additional southbound lane also will be constructed.

Centerville’s website offers a program called “Cornerstone Connections” that provides residents with updates on construction projects in and around the Cornerstone of Centerville develop. To register for the program visit www.center villeohio.gov.