An overhaul of infrastructure upgrades on a portion of 15th Street South that primarily serves traffic to three Columbus plants is ongoing and will be completed this summer.
Since December, Columbus Light and Water has gone underneath the road to replace an old two-inch water main with a six-inch pipe and repair failures in the sanitary sewer line on the stretch of road that extends from 11th Avenue South to Pickensville Road.
The city has installed a cross-drainage culvert to address the lack of drainage that was causing standing rainwater to seep into portions of the road, causing deterioration. The road had been paved in 2012.
Because the road is commonly used by trucks to access Columbus’ APAC asphalt plant as well as facilities for concrete supplier MMC Materials and Waste Pro, the three entities have agreed to assist the city and CL&W by donating materials needed to complete the project. APAC is donating asphalt, while MMC is providing crushed concrete and Waste Pro is donating geotextile fabric that will protect soil and help with drainage. The only city cost will be labor to mill and surface the road.
Base failures not associated with drainage still need to be repaired, city engineering consultant Kevin Stafford said. CL&W General Manager Todd Gale said his crews will use equipment to repair the problem areas. Every other component of the project that was CL&W’s responsibility is already complete, Gale said.
The city will request bids from APAC and Falcon Contracting in Columbus. The lowest and best bidder will be awarded the contract for the paving portion of the project, which does not yet have an estimated cost.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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