Up-date on Columbia/Lebanon/Fields-Ertel roundabout

Warren County Engineer provides Loveland Magazine with up-date

The timeline of the Columbia/Lebanon Road and Fields-Ertel Road roundabout project depends greatly on the timing of the available funding. Chief Deputy Engineer, Kurt Weber said, “We would like to begin construction this fall with a full road closure; however, it’s possible that the project start date could be pushed back until the spring of 2017 if the funding is delayed.

The funding for this $1.64 million project is being provided by the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC), the Hamilton County Engineer’s Office and Warren County Taxpayers. Weber said, “The earliest availability for OWPC funding would be after July 1, 2016. It is expected that full OPWC funding will be available in August of 2016 with anticipated construction commencing in September of 2016.”

The project will take at least one construction season to complete. Weber said a realistic completion date  with final resurfacing of the roadway would be sometime in the construction season of 2017. A more detailed construction schedule will be available after bids are taken and a preconstruction meeting with contractors is conducted, according to Weber.

The first phase of the construction began on July 6, 2015. While studying the proposal, an estimate was presented to the public of the construction cost of $2.1 million to add traffic lights at the intersection, or to construct the roundabout for $1 million.

These renderings were provided as a visual for the upcoming intersection improvements at a “Public Involvement Meeting” held in March, 2012. They were provided for a reference, however, “not to be considered official final design for the upcoming construction.”