ROME TOWNSHIP — Before they give away a section of State Route 243, the Ohio Department of Transportation wants to make sure it’s in tip-top shape.

That’s the reason for a new paving project that began Wednesday in Proctorville and Rome Township.

“As part of the Chesapeake Bypass project, we’ll be putting that road under the jurisdiction of the county,” said Kathleen Fuller, public information officer with ODOT. “Before we do that, we just like to make sure it’s in good shape.”

ODOT officials and county commissioners toured the road recently, and Fuller said that the road did need a little TLC before it passed into the county’s hands.

“It wasn’t in really bad condition, but it did need some resurfacing work,” Fuller said.

Crews from the Shelly Co. of Thornville have been subcontracted to resurface the State Route 243 loop between the 20.85 and the 23.52-mile markers. This section of the route is situated along Cedar Street and Beulah Lane in Rome, and it will be relinquished to the county upon completion of the relocation project.

As part of the state Route 7 relocation project at Proctorville, contractors for the Ohio Department of Transportation District 9 will be applying a surface course, berming and striping a portion of the route in Rome Township.

The one downside of the new road for motorists may be occasional slowdowns as the road will be reduced to one lane.

Fuller said that should only be during daytime hours, and should end by the project’s scheduled completion on July 7.