Some good news in the current phase of the Rt. 82 widening project comes in the form of potential shortened time line of the project and a traffic flow that is actually better than originally anticipated.
The project will convert Rt. 82, which runs east/west through North Royalton, from a two-lane road to a three-lane road, with six-foot sidewalks and seven-foot tree lawns one each side, as well as two 15-foot lanes and an 11-foot turning lane, completing a span of 78 feet. The lanes will be wider than the current lanes. The West 130 to York Road portion of the Royalton Road project is being sponsored by Cuyahoga County and estimated at $14.5 million for construction and construction administration costs. The widening project is also expected to include widening intersections, traffic light improvement, installation of storm sewers, culvert improvement/replacement, sanitary improvement and storm water detention basin construction
North Royalton construction company DiGioia-Suburban Excavating is managing the first phase of the project, which spans the area between West 130 Street and York Road. The subsequent sections of Rt. 82 will then be widened, between York and Ridge Roads, and Ridge Road to the North Royalton eastern border with Broadview Heights.
Phase one of the project actually begins just west of the Walnut Hills Drive/Rt. 82 intersection and continues east to just west of the York Road/Rt. 82 intersection. Land acquisitions have taken place and the trees have been removed from the area. Utility prep work has taken place and the project began last November, when temporary pavement on north side of Rt. 82 from western to the bridge was installed. The temporary pavement installed was wider than originally planned, according to Don Holmok, Senior Estimator for DiGioia. He said that it allows an additional lane that is utilized by construction traffic. “Traffic flows better than it would have done, with the original plan, as the dump truck and crew is working in it’s own lane, so the traffic isn’t continually interrupted. That truck is no longer in the lane that has traffic. In the long run, it works out for everyone. I think that the traffic flow is doing well,” said Holmok. Two way traffic is being continually maintained during the widening project.
A new water line and storm sewer is being installed on the south side of the road. “We will also be working on the culvert in valley,” Holmok said. This work will continue through the winter months. Holmok said that what happens in these projects, being northeast Ohio, they only have two basic construction seasons to put asphalt and concrete down, which take place from April through November. In order to get the project in on time, they need to do as much utility work as possible now in order to do more paving work in the spring, summer and fall.
The deadline date for the phase one project is July of 2021. Holmok said that at this point, they are looking to finish the project a bit early, hoping to shave off a few months.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer