Columbus is preparing to start on the next phase of the State Street improvement project, which will develop the north side of the Central Avenue corridor.
The Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety has approved a contract with Dave O’Mara Contractor Inc. for an amount not to exceed $1.4 million to start Phase 2B of the project.
Phase 2B, about 1,572 feet, will continue the same trail design along the north side of Third Street from Central Avenue to California Street, then run north on California Street to Fifth Street.
This phase will contain a new 10-foot-wide, multi-use trail along Third Street, pedestrian scale lighting, among other items. The intersections of Third Street and California Street and Fifth Street and California Street will have new ramps that are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a 10-foot-wide pedestrian trail will be installed on the east side of California Street between Third and Fifth Streets.
The start date for construction is up in the air because city officials are still attempting to schedule time for Duke Energy to relocate overhead power lines along California Street between Third and Sixth Streets underground, said Heather Pope, city redevelopment director.
In March, Duke Energy officials estimated that they were scheduling out 45 days in advance and it would take three to four weeks to finish moving the power lines underground once they started, Pope said.
Once the power lines are relocated underground, Pope said she expects the construction of Phase 2B to take approximately three to five months to complete, depending on weather.
Phase 1, which was completed in 2017, consisted of a People Trail connection on Central Avenue to the Hawcreek bridge with two plazas on each side with benches, brick pavers and lighting. An 8-foot walking path was installed on the north side of the bridge, while a 6-foot sidewalk was placed on the south side.
Phase 2A involved the installation of two green spaces at Stadler Drive and at the Indiana Avenue and State Street, and adding new sidewalks, a multi-use trail and decorative panels featuring Paul Rand’s Dancing C’s design.
Pope said the idea of the project is to draw people to the city’s east side.
“(The State Street revitalization project) draws you to the east side of our community and lets you know that Columbus doesn’t end at Central Avenue,” she said.
