University partners with City to leverage roadway improvement dollars

This year Ohio University is partnering with the City of Athens for the first time on the city’s annual paving project. The City of Athens devotes resources to street improvements each year through its annual paving project and this year, OHIO will contribute $200,000 to fund the milling and repaving of several sections of campus roadways. Roadway sections included in this project are West Green drive between Richland Avenue and the Central Food Facility, Oxbow Trail behind Stocker Center, South Green Drive around the intersection with University Terrace, Race Street from University Terrace to Morton Hall, and Rufus Street. York Paving will perform the milling and paving work starting September 4 and concluding on, or around September 13. While single lanes of traffic will remain open on these roadways for the most part during the work, motorists should be observant of flaggers directing traffic and be prepared for short delays.

OHIO’s Director for Infrastructure Projects Jon Cozad said the paving project will improve the campus driving conditions, and impact to roadway users should be limited to partial short-term road closures. Facilities Management and Safety will communicate any associated closures with campus.

According to Cozad, both the University and City of Athens benefit from a lower cost for their paving projects by partnering. “We were able to bid this work together and get more competitive pricing,” said Cozad, who is hopeful that this partnership will serve as a model for future collaboration.

Questions may be directed to the Facilities Management and Safety Work Center at 593-2911.

undefinedA section of South Green Drive near the intersection with University Terrace is one of the campus roadways scheduled for repaving.