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37/79 intersection reopens Monday





MILLERSPORT – The Ohio Department of Transportation expects the upgraded intersection of Ohio 37 and Ohio 79 to reopen as scheduled Monday morning, June 23. The intersection was closed three weeks ago on June 2 to install a left turn lane off Ohio 37 to Ohio 79.

Motorists should expect one land closures for another week or so with traffic controlled by flaggers as the contractor completes lane markings. The original contract amount was $618,834.98 which will be increasing since the contractor had to install additional drainage.

That total is likely to increase again when Walnut Township seeks compensation from ODOT for the damage done to Blacklick Road and Cherry Lane by truckers ignoring the official detour for the 37/79 closure. Road supervisor Randy Kemmerer told trustees at their June 10 meeting that he asked ODOT for barricades on Ohio 37 at Ohio 204 to keep trucks from using township roads to get around the closure.

Kemmerer said ODOT turned down his request. The township placed a traffic counter on Blacklick shortly after the closure began. As of June 10, traffic was averaging about 2,000 vehicles a day, compared to about100 per day before the closure. Trustees unanimously agreed to send a letter to ODOT requesting compensation.


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