Ohio 37 bridge project to wrap up by year’s end

The greater Granville community should receive a gift from the Ohio Department of Transportation just in time for Christmas.

The bulk of construction on the Ohio 37 bridge widening project is tentatively slated to wrap just days before the holiday, said Morgan Overbey, public information officer for ODOT District 5.

“(It’s) looking like we’re going to open the interchange without any restrictions, signals done and that sort of thing the week of the 21st,” she said.

She said workers will conduct signal testing for the traffic lights north and south of the new four-lane bridge, plus for the new signal at the intersection of Ohio 661 and River Road/weaver Drive, during the week of Dec. 13.

“Obviously (we’re) looking forward to getting everything open, hopefully before the holidays,” she said.

Some finishing touches will need done in the spring, including additional paving, Overbey said. And the longplanned conversion of the north side of River Road into a cul-de-sac near the

entrance of Raccoon Valley Park will not be done until next year either, she said.

Granville Village Manager Herb Koehler said originally the $9 million project, which started in May 2020, was supposed to conclude by the end of the 2021 construction season, but supply chain problems impacted the project. He said all work should be completed by May 2022.

“We understand that no construction project goes perfectly according to plan,” he said. “We’re just excited that they’ve done such a nice job and we’re about done with it.”

Granville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Steve Matheny said it’s exciting for the residents and business of Granville that construction is nearing its end.

“It truly has been a challenge and problematic for the community, for the village, for the residents, for the businesses, for everybody,” he said. “We understand the longer term benefit. It will be beneficial and we’re looking forward to that, but it’s certainly been a longtime coming.” mdevito@gannett.com 740-607-2175

Twitter: @Mariadevito13

ODOT When all the work is completed, the Ohio 37 bridge to and from Granville will have been widened to four lanes. The project was expected to conclude in autumn, but some aspects will extend into 2022.