Subcontactor to work at site this week

The opening of the new roundabouts on State Route 93 to traffic, originally planned for this week, has been pushed back until Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Matt McGuire, public information officer for the Ohio Department of Transportation District 9, said the delay was because a subcontractor needed for work, would not arrive until later this week.

“But it is still ahead of schedule,” McGuire said.

Next week’s opening of the roundabouts will mark Phase III of the project, in which lanes will be open to traffic, signals removed and entrance and exit ramps to U.S. 52 will be reopened.

Remaining work expected to be completed this fall includes construction of the roundabout center islands, as well as asphalt surface paving.

This work will continue through October, the interim completion date, until final paving is done next year.

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9/10/23

Work ahead of schedule

When The Ironton Tribune spoke with Matt McGuire, public information officer for the Ohio Department of Transportation District 9, last week, he said work was on schedule on the Ironton roundabout project and they were expected to open to traffic in October.

Then, this week, on Wednesday, he got word from the contractor that they were ready to open to traffic ahead of schedule.

McGuire said the plan is now for the roundabouts to open to traffic on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

McGuire said there will still be crews there doing work, such as on the center islands, and there will be one narrow, 10-foot lane for traffic in each direction.

“But they will be open to traffic, as if they were roundabouts,” he said.

McGuire said crews will continue to be on site doing work until October, and he urged motorists to be mindful and cautious in the area.

In the spring, the contractor will come back to do final paving on the project, he said.