Lorain, Clague roadwork ahead of set schedule
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Sept. 6, 2006

Area residents, businesses and motorists should be getting an early holiday gift on city roadways soon.

City officials said both the multimillion dollar Lorain and Clague roads reconstruction projects are ahead of schedule and should be done before their planned completion dates. The Lorain Road work extends east to the Fairview Park border while the Clague Road work comes into town from the Interstate 480 exit. The Lorain Road work was scheduled to be done by mid-October and the Clague Road work by the end of November.

Service Director Duane Limpert said the fast progress will benefit the residents, businesses and motorists affected by the work, which has been going on throughout much of the year on one or both projects. The Clague Road work started in the spring while the Lorain Road work started this summer.

“It should make traveling around the city a lot easier,” Limpert said. “We know it’s been an inconvenience for all the people who live, travel or work on those roadways, but it’s something that’s going to make the city so much nicer for everybody involved when these projects are completed.”

Limpert said good work by the project workers and nice weather have played a part in the projects moving along ahead of schedule.

“Sometimes you can be lucky and good,” Limpert said, referring to the largely good weather and work being done on the projects.

He said the first layer of pavement is done on much of the Lorain Road project. He added the workers will be doing smaller portions of the work right now.

“They will be working on the ADA (American with Disabilities) access points from the sidewalk, as well as other areas of the street like the manhole covers and what people see as the little bits of metal sticking out in the road,” Limpert said. “They’re in the process of smoothing out the areas around the manhole covers and other areas, but the first part of the paving has made that a little smoother.”

He said work should begin on the second layer of paving after the other areas are completed.

“They’re supposed to be done by mid-October, but right now they’re looking more at the beginning of the month,” Limpert said.

North Olmsted Police Capt. Wayne Wozniak said there have been no major problems with enforcement of the new traffic patterns while the work has been progressing.

Limpert said the Clague Road work also has been going well.

“They’ve moved ahead nicely,” Limpert said. “They’re getting the roadway down and have also done good work on the drainage and sidewalk areas.”

Limpert said workers are scheduled to be pouring the last portions of some roadway paving this week.

“I know this one in particular has been tough on residents in the area and the motorists, but they have been doing extremely well on the work,” Limpert said.

Safety Director Tom Terbrack there have been a few issues again with people trying to go through the Clague Road construction area, which remians closed to all but residents and construction workers.

“We don’t know why some people don’t understand or disregard the road closed area signs but the police are still ticketing people who go through those signs,” Terbrack said. “We need to keep the area safe for people residing there and the workers until the work is completed.”

Limpert said keeping the area closed to through traffic has contributed to the Clague Road project moving along faster.

“The workers have been able to focus more on the work knowing vehicles aren’t coming through regularly,” Limpert said. “Right now, we’re looking at it getting done closer to the start of November instead of November.”

Other city officials are pleased by the work.

“I’m thrilled both are moving along well,” said Michael Gareau Jr., chairman of City Council’s Building, Zoning and Development Committee. “In particular, I’m pleased that the Clague Road work is doing well. I use that way for business to get out on the road, and it will be nice to have it done and a major roadway available in that area.”