While driving along North 4th Street, speed demons may have to slow down.
In an effort to slow traffic and create a safer residential community, 12 concrete bump-out extensions will be added at the intersections between 9th Avenue and Lincoln Street, allowing pedestrians to walk on the sidewalk farther into the street before crossing.
The cost of this project is between $500,000 — $600,000, including inspection costs, said Mary Webster, spokeswoman for Columbus Department of Public Service.
The McDaniels Construction Company will be in charge of the project.
“The city planners have been working on ways to improve neighborhoods. This type of project raises the level of safety in the area and increases the aesthetic value,” said Eric Girard, the president of the company.
Planners have also considered adding sewer drains and some repaving, Girard said.
Girard said the project is fairly small compared to construction on major highways and roads such as I-670.
Columbus City Councilwoman Maryellen O’Shaughnessy said she has heard complaints about the speeding traffic and dangerous conditions for a long time. She supports the new sidewalks.
“The residents have been looking for a way to slow the traffic and make it safer to walk around. Cars speed through the wide-open, four-lane street,” O’Shaughnessy said.
Residents of Italian Village, Weinland Park and the OSU area decided this project was what the community needed, Webster said.
“Money from the urban infrastructure fund was allocated for community improvement. Based on input from community members and surrounding businesses, the neighborhood felt this project best utilized the money,” she said.
The construction will commence in early April and conclude at the end of July or early August.
Weather permitting, the project is to last four months and will include the 12 bump-outs, new sidewalks and ramps and some landscaping. These additions will narrow the street visually, said Steve Hurtt, an architect who is a member of the Italian Village commission.
“The project will essentially reduce the four-lane road down to three,” Hurtt said.
Traffic should not be a problem during construction, since construction workers will work on only one lane at a time, Girard said.
O’Shaughnessy said Summit Street is also due for some renovations to help improve the safety of walking on and around the four-lane, one way street.
“It’s not safe to have cars moving that fast where children live and go to school. As it stands now, the speed of traffic on those streets is very detrimental to the neighborhood,” O’Shaughnessy said.
No parking spaces will be lost because the additions occupy current no-parking zones.
