Crocker-Stearns work delayed
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Oct. 24, 2007

Wet weather and some unexpected changes have prompted project officials to say the North Olmsted portion of the Crocker-Stearns construction work won’t be completed until next year.

Previously, construction officials’ timetable for the $13 million project to connect I-480 and I-90 had projected having the North Olmsted portion of the work being done by the end of 2007, with the Westlake work and overall project being completed by 2009. However, officials said the record-setting August rainfall and finding sewers shallower than initially expected in the work area have caused officials to move the anticipated completion of the North Olmsted work back to the spring of 2008. Despite this, city officials still anticipated workers would begin pouring concrete in the eastern lanes this week.

City officials acknowledged being unhappy with the change in the timetable.

“We’re disappointed because we had been moving along quite well and had planned for the work in our area to be done by the end of the year,” said Mayor Thomas O’Grady. “After we heard this, I said that’s not really acceptable, but in looking at the causes, there’s not really a lot that can be done except to keep going as efficiently as possible. We can’t control the weather, and workers have been addressing the sewer issue.”

City Service Director Duane Limpert said the Fabrizi Construction workers will do their best to get the work done as quickly as possible.

“They’ve indicated they’re going to be running a lot of workers to try and get everything back on track with this,” Limpert said. “But we had all that August rain. And if we get something similar and have a wet November, I don’t see us finishing our end this year.”

Nicole Dailey Jones, the City Council Streets and Transportation Committee Chairwoman as well as whose Ward 3 includes the project area, said the city will proceed as best as it can with the new timetable.

“It’s unfortunate that this has happened, but we still want to get everything done in the best way possible,” Jones said. “We’re still going to work to make sure the city residents and businesses in the construction area are properly taken care of. Concrete is going to start being poured in the east lane area within a few days.”

All three officials met with residents in a neighborhood meeting last Thursday at City Hall to give residents an update about the project.

“Certainly there’s some disappointment with them about the delay,” Jones said. “But they also wanted to discuss other issues.”

Jones said having adequate safety measures in place for residents in the area is being addressed.

“Police and fire officials have plans for making sure they can get to the residences and people in the construction area in case of an emergency,” she said.

City officials are also aware winter is just around the corner.

“The service department is also making plans for getting snow away from people’s residences in the construction area for the winter months,” she said.

Limpert said the city is trying to make sure residents’ needs are taken care of during the project.

“We’re keeping a close eye on the situation and will work with them and the construction crews to make sure they have as good an access as possible,” Lampert said.

O’Grady said the city will continue to meet the needs of the residents.

“We know they’re in that area and we’re going to have safeguards in place for them throughout the work,” he said.