BY JOE WESSELS
Loveland Local News
LOVELAND, Ohio — Significant street resurfacing is beginning this morning in downtown Loveland, likely causing more traffic difficulties.
“No parking” signs have been hung around downtown and big dump trucks are in position in a nearby parking lot to begin milling on city streets around the area today. Milling will also occur along Grear Millitzer Place, next to City Hall and Plaid Room Records. All downtown asphalt paving will occur on another day, according to a member of the construction crew.
The Loveland streets – or sections of streets besides Grear Millitzer Place – to be paved this year include Pheasant Woods, Shadow Wood, Redbud and Cardinal courts, Dogwood Drive, Hickory Ridge Lane, W. Loveland Ave. from Karl Brown Way to State Route 48 and from W. Loveland Ave. to Broadway St., Broadway St. from Karl Brown Way to State Route 48 and Riverside Drive/Kemper Rd., south of West Loveland Ave. for 4500 feet, according to Cindy Klopfenstein, the city enginneer. The same information is also posted on the city’s website.
Fillmore Construction, LLC, of Leesburg, Ohio, north of Hillsboro, was awarded the city’s road program contract for 2020, which includes all paving done in the city this year. The bid, worth $816,858, beat out three other bids.
At Council’s May 26 meeting, City Manager David Kennedy discussed reductions in the 2020 road program after expected revenue shortfalls because of the COVID-19 shutdown. The city had budgeted nearly $850,000 for 2020 and the contract with Fillmore allows for adjustments, if necessary, during the construction period. Kennedy recommended the city make a 25 percent cut to the program until actual revenues are realized from state sources, including the recently-increased gas tax. If revenue trend upward, the road paving projects could be increased – even while the construction has begun in other parts of the city. If the money is not realized by the city before construction is completed this year, Kennedy said those amounts would just be added 2021’s road budget.
Because of these anticipated shortfalls, the city has allocated approximately $620,000 for 2020 as of mid-June. This includes curb replacements and roadway resurfacing.
This is Fillmore’s first experience paving roads in Loveland, Kennedy told Council at its February 25 meeting. After questioning from Councilman Ted Phelps, the city manager noted they have worked on other non-paving projects in Loveland and for have done paving in the cities of Washington Court House, Yellow Springs and Wilmington, among others. Klopfenstein had contacted other governments who had used the same firm and Kennedy said the engineer “feels comfortable moving forward with the contract,” according to meeting minutes.
City Hall office today workers moved their cars after arriving at work to accommodate the construction equipment staging in the parking lot behind Paxton’s Restaurant and Plaid Room Records.
Traffic is expected to be impeded, a road crew worker said, adding work gets done faster when drivers cooperate with flaggers, street signs and “stay out of the way.”
Last Updated on September 4, 2020 by Joe Wessels
