MAYOR'S MESSAGE

Craig A. Stough 5/31/06

"Monroe Street Improvements Underway"

The most visible street improvement project, and the project likely to inconvenience the most Sylvanians, is getting underway on Monroe Street between US 23 and the railroad tracks west of Main Street. Yes, more orange barrels will appear as Sylvania's most heavily traveled road, Monroe Street, is milled and repaved, sidewalks and curbs are replaced, waterlines are replaced, and electrical conduits are installed to move some overhead wires underground.

Combined with ODOT bridge repairs on US 23 and I-475, travel to and from Sylvania will be more difficult than in recent memory. Monroe Street repairs this year is the best choice to replace the deteriorating pavement, however. Many commuters are already detouring south to Sylvania Avenue and Central Avenue to avoid the US 23/I-475 detours. Further, Main Street will be closed next summer at Ten Mile Creek for bridge replacement, making Monroe and Harroun the detour for that project.

Some of the repaving work on Monroe Street this year has been contracted for nighttime construction to reduce congestion. Also, the center turn lane will be used to maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction for much of the construction period.

Sylvania City Council awarded the $1,845,386.98 contract for these Monroe Street improvements to the low bidder, Gerken Paving, Inc. during their May 1, 2006 meeting. Funding is coming from City notes sold for the repaving portion of the project, and from the water fund for $339,661.00 of waterline improvements and $71,645.20 from the street lighting fund for street lighting underground conduits. The engineers estimate for the project was $1,918,121.00.

Travel will be more difficult than usual this summer on Monroe Street, Sylvania's most heavily traveled road. The project is scheduled for completion in early October. Thank you for your patience as we complete this important infrastructure improvement for the drivability and appearance of our City.