It’s been on the planning block for probably 40 years, but this May it should become reality.

Sunday, January 27, 2002

It’s been on the planning block for probably 40 years, but this May it should become reality.

The Ohio Department of Transportation has set March 6 as the date to sell the contract for the first phase of the Chesapeake Bypass, commissioners said Thursday.

During their regular meeting, the board approved a resolution to cooperate with ODOT on the project, to "construct a new two-lane limited access highway extending State Route 607 from the structure over State Route 7 to the proposed extension of County Road 403 (Irene Road) and all necessary appurtenances," according to state documentation.

The work will be only for the first phase, bypassing the village of Proctorville, but next year ODOT hopes to sell the entire project, county commission president Jason Stephens said.

The project has been an ongoing political struggle since before Stephens was born, he said.

"They say the bulldozers will start in May," Stephens said. "We’re looking forward to this We’ve done our part."

Also, in November, the state will sell the Proctorville third lane project, so it will proceed about the same time as the bypass project.

The cooperation agreement with ODOT includes the use of county and township rights of way, to vacate portions of local highways taken up by the state project, and maintenance agreements, among other things.

Roads affected and/or altered by the initial bypass work will include Irene Road, Leona Drive and Shirkey Street.

The state has already been purchasing property along the rights of way of the bypass and its exit/entrance ramps.

For more information, ODOT has a Web page devoted to the bypass project – visit http://http://www.dot.state.oh.us/dist9/ then select "Chesapeake Bypass" to be taken to the R.D. Zande page.

In other action Thursday, commissioners:

– Heard workers’ compensation and safety proposals from individuals, but took no action.

– Passed a resolution congratulating the Fairland School District on its excellent proficiency test scores.

– Signed a contract for services with Downes, Hurst and Fishel; and signed an HVAC maintenance agreement for the group home.