The continuation of the Chesapeake Bypass construction and and completion of a project to widen part of State Route 7 are on the drawing board as Ohio Department of Transportation District Nine officials gear up for their annual construction season.

ODOT officials have earmarked $26,840,000 for construction of Phase 1B of the bypass project. During Phase 1B, a roadway will be built between Irene Road at Proctorville and a point near Fairland East Elementary School on State Route 7.

Work should commence on Phase 1B by late summer and take a year to complete.

The first segment of roadway, Phase 1A, is nearly complete. It is a two-lane roadway from the 31st Street Bridge at State Route 607 to State Route 775 and Irene Road. Phase 1A should be completed at approximately the same time Phase 1B is sold.

Meanwhile, the widening of State Route 7 through the village of Proctorville is scheduled for completion in August. The $4,459,873 project entails the construction of a center turn lane and the installation of a new storm system, curb, gutter, sidewalks and traffic control devices along a 1.33 mile stretch of that roadway.

"Once Phase 1A is completed, we can take traffic off of State Route 7 and divert it to Phase 1A and hopefully reduce traffic impasse for motorists," ODOT District 9 spokeswoman Kathleen Fuller said. "We ask for everyone's patience in this. This is a major project and it will be a major improvement for Proctorville."

Fuller said completion of Phase 1A is contingent on the mother nature - a string of sunny, warm days will create a favorable atmosphere in which workers can apply a final layer of asphalt and perform other functions needed.

The state will spend $173,000 to replace a bridge on State Route 93 near the 15.6-mile marker near Mt. Vernon-Howard Ridge Road. Fuller said the sale date for that project is mid July. That project will is expected to take three months to complete.

In addition, the state will supervise the new bridge at Scottown that is expected to handle traffic in the place of the Scottown Covered Bridge. The new bridge will be built near the historic span, which may be restricted to foot and bicycle traffic in the future.

Because of the use of federal monies, state officials will also supervise improvements to portions of Second Street in Ironton.

ODOT projects for Lawrence County will total $32,679,373 this construction season.