Infrastructure | First Avenue Phase 2, Virginia to Grandview Ave

Enabled by a combination grant and loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission, planned improvements included in Phase 2 upgrades to West First Avenue will address safety, accessibility, walkability, and infrastructure condition upgrades from Virginia Avenue to Grandview Avenue. Phase 1 work completed several years ago included improvements from Grandview Yard to Virginia Avenue. Future phases will continue improvements westward.

Funds for Phase 2 were available beginning in the second half of 2023, allowing planning and engineering to occur in preparation for construction throughout mid-2024. The total planned investment for this phase is $2.8M, with OPWC funding covering $2.7M of that total and the balance of $100K funded through planned and budgeted City infrastructure resources.

Preliminary planned improvements encompass "Complete Streets" concepts, providing improvements for many modes of circulation through this corridor, including:

• Pedestrian traffic, with intersection improvements/retaining walls at several intersection corners, safer bumpout access to ADA ramps and freshly painted crosswalks, and a new Tour de Grandview start/finish line
• Bicycle traffic, with freshly painted sharrows and newly resurfaced roadway
• Transit users, with accessible bumpouts at all of the bus stops
• Vehicular traffic, with the street resurfacing and pavement markings

Additionally, the Project will include the following upgrades to area infrastructure:

• Sanitary sewer relining to improve flow and eliminate excess stormwater infiltration during storm events, enhancing sanitary sewer capacity
• Elimination of Lead Service Lines, where possible
• Increased water flow at fire hydrants, improving fire protection for residents

Construction Notes:

• Sidewalks will be maintained on at least one side of the roadway for the duration of the project.
• During work hours, there will be times when vehicular traffic will be reduced to 1 lane with traffic maintained by flaggers.
• The road will be 2 lanes and always open outside of work hours.