In addition to all the road construction going on this year, two water main replacement projects and a gas line replacement project are also taking place. One project will tie up a part of State Road, one, a section of Royalton Road, and the third, a portion of Ridge Road. Utility construction is an ongoing thing, as the aging infrastructure needs to be rehabilitated and replaced. The City of Cleveland Division of Water spends more than $25 million a year replacing water mains alone.
The State Road project consists of the replacement of sections of water mains on State Road from Castle Drive to Sprague Road. The second project, which has been in the works for several years, will affect Royalton Road from State Road to Prince Charles, which is Phase Two of a project that was started in 2016.
The State Road project will replace approximately 5,323 feet of water main and the replacement of valves, fire hydrants and service connections. “This project includes the installation of approximately 4,077 feet of 12-inch water main, 1,174 feet of 16-inch water main, and 72 feet of 8-inch water main,” according to the North Royalton Engineering Department. The pavement will then be restored, once this work has been completed. According to North Royalton City Engineer, Mark Schmitzer, the project funding qualified under the City of Cleveland’s Capital Program. The estimated $1.3 million project is being designed and bid by the City of Cleveland, Division of Water. Presently, the bypass waterline is installed and is active and the construction has begun. Construction zones with flaggers are being utilized to safely move traffic through this area. It is expected to be completed in late September.
The Royalton Road project has begun, with the temporary bypass waterline being installed. Fabrizi Trucking & Paving is performing the work. This project includes the replacement of about 1,940 linear feet of a 12-inch water main along the north side of Royalton Road. “The contractor intends to utilize a temporary traffic signal at both ends of the construction zone to safely move traffic through this area,” according to the North Royalton Engineering Department.
This project includes the replacement of the existing water main, values and hydrants, and is being subsidized through the Cleveland Water Department’s Suburban Water Main Renewal Program. Thirty one communities, including North Royalton, participated in the Suburban Water Main Renewal Program. The program awards about $15 million worth of projects per year. The projects include the replacement of aging infrastructure in order to improve the functionality of the overall water system. This project is expected to be completed by the end of August, at which time the resurfacing of Royalton Road in that area will begin.
The Columbia Gas Betterment Project includes the installation of 12-inch diameter gas lines along Ridge Road, north of Albion Road to north of Tilby Road. This new gas main is being installed to provide better pressures to portions south and west of this area for the developments that exist, as well as future developments in the city. “Portions of this gas main are being installed along the southbound lane of Ridge Road, while the remainder will be installed within private easements on the west side of Ridge Road that were acquired by Columbia Gas,” according to the North Royalton Engineering Department. “Some of the restoration work will begin along the project corridor to repair driveway aprons and the roadway that was disturbed as part of this project” One way traffic may cause delays during this time. This project is anticipated to be completed in October.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer