Contractors for ODOT and the Highland County Engineer’s Office will start work on an intersection improvement project on Prospect Road and State Route 73 in Highland County.
The total project includes widening nearly five miles of East Prospect Road, between S.R. 73 and S.R. 124, replacing culverts, correcting horizontal and vertical curves, upgrading drainage along the county road, as well as improving a half-mile section of S.R. 73 at Prospect Road to increase sight distance at the routes’ intersection.
“The intent of the project is to improve safety and mobility at the S.R. 73 intersection, as well as on Prospect Road,” said Otworth. “While construction will have a significant impact on the residents and motorists who live and travel through this area, it is an important project and one that will greatly enhance our transportation system.”
The project will be built in phases, and with utility work yet to be completed, Phase 1 construction is scheduled to begin Monday, March 12. At which time, S.R. 73 will be closed immediately north of Prospect Road, and through-traffic motorists will be detoured by way of S.R. 785 and S.R. 247. As Prospect Road will remain open during this initial phase of construction, motorists will be able to cross S.R. 73 as well as turn left or south onto S.R. 73 from westbound Prospect Road.
Following this, the closure on S.R. 73 will be extended south of the intersection with Prospect Road, closing the intersection and a portion of Prospect Road for up to 90 days. Although the schedule will be contingent upon the weather and other construction-related matters, it is anticipated that this closure will go into effect on April 2.
In subsequent phases of construction, Bennington Road will be closed for up to 60 days, while Pigeon Roost Road, Herbert Road and Glaze Road will be closed for up to 30 days each for intersection work as the contractors proceed along Prospect Road.
DGM, Inc. of Beaver, Ohio was awarded a contract for approximately $5.39 million to reconstruct Prospect Road, and although most major construction should be completed this year, the entire project is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2019.