Crescent-News.com - U.S. 24 work on agenda for area counties

By TODD HELBERG

cnedit@crescent-news.com

BOWLING GREEN -- Road work this year in the Ohio Department of Transportation's District 2, headquartered here, will include the U.S. 24 expansion project east of Napoleon.

District 2 covers eight northwest Ohio counties, including Henry, Fulton and Williams in the Defiance six-county area.

As in District 1, which includes Defiance, Paulding and Putnam counties, the U.S. 24 widening project will highlight District 2 road projects.

While segments have been under construction in District 1, a new one will open this spring from U.S. 6 east of Napoleon to Henry County Road 4A.

A small section of U.S. 24-expansion work occurred last year in District 2 from the Defiance-Henry County line to Napoleon, but was part of a larger section and fell under the jurisdiction of District 1. So, the work from Napoleon to Road 4A represents the first segment undertaken completely in District 2.

This will include relocating the highway north of its current alignment.

Estimated cost is $57.6 million with Miller Brothers Construction, Archbold, the general contractor.

Wetlands mitigation is a related component of the U.S. 24 project in District 2.

According to ODOT, two wetlands totaling some 20 acres will be constructed near North Turkeyfoot Creek and between County Roads 7 and 6C, north of U.S 24. This will compensate for wetlands taken during the road widening project.

Estimated cost is $3.3 million.

Another part of the project is between U.S. 6 and Glenwood Avenue in Napoleon where an overpass will be built. The cost is $2.6 million.

Other work on state and federal routes this year, by county, include:

Fulton

-- replacing two culverts on U.S. 20 at U.S. 127 and on U.S. 20A at Township Road 17.

-- replacing two culverts on U.S. 20, west of Fayette, between Township Road 28 and U.S. 127. The cost is $275,000.

-- demolishing and removing structures and items on property needed to build a railroad crossing on Hallett Avenue in Swanton. Estimated cost is $108,000.

Henry

-- repairing pavement on U.S. 24 under a railroad bridge east of the U.S. 24/U.S. 6 split. The cost is $1.94 million.

-- resurfacing Ohio 18, between Holgate and Ohio 109, and between Ohio 109 in Hamler to near Township Road 8B. The cost is $1.16 million.

Williams

-- replacing two culverts on U.S. 127, between Ohio 15 and County Road 15, and on Ohio 66 at the Defiance County line.

-- replacing a culvert on Ohio 576 at Township Road 182, west of Bryan. The cost is $105,000.