Ironton’s $540,000 paving project might see a few more changes if, following a public information meeting scheduled for this month, residents decide concrete is the way to go.

Monday, November 01, 1999

Ironton’s $540,000 paving project might see a few more changes if, following a public information meeting scheduled for this month, residents decide concrete is the way to go.

"North Second Street is still an undecided area of the project," Ironton Mayor Bob Cleary said. "There are residents who have submitted a petition not to pave this street, but to repair the concrete with the money instead."

The meeting is planned as an informational session Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Ironton City Building conference room on the second floor. Officials will be on-hand throughout the day to answer questions one-on-one, Cleary said.

The 75-year-old concrete has held up well under the strain of Ironton traffic, but Cleary said he wants the public to have all the information before the project moves forward.

After the bid phase closes, city officials said they hope the weather will stay warm long enough to begin the paving this year. But, whether they begin, complete or hold the project, the money has been guaranteed for the selected roads.

"We have set aside about $130,000 of the money for just this area of North Second Street from Orchard Street to Hanging Rock," Cleary said. "But we want to have all the public input possible, so we have planned this meeting to give the residents a chance to find out all the facts and then present us with their opinions and suggestions."

The project is funded through a grant for which Empowerment Zone funding was used to gain matching dollars.

The grant, part of the Surface Transportation Program (STP), is available for the network of roads and highways that are designated as either emergency routes or alternative routes by the federal government. These routes are put in use if the major transportation routes are closed, city engineer Joe McCallister explained.

Streets included in the project include:

– All of Second Street from the city limits at Hanging Rock to Jefferson Street.

– Sixth Street from Park Avenue to Railroad Street

– Madison Street from Second Street to Campbell Avenue

– Campbell Avenue from Madison Street to Adams Street

– Adams Street from Campbell Avenue to Second Street

– Spruce Street from Third Street to Ninth Street

– Ninth Street from Spruce Street to Maple Street

– Fifth Street from Spruce Street to McGovney Street with the exception of two blocks from Vine to Montgomery streets, which will be repaired and left bricked.

– Lorain Street from Third Street to Sixth Street

– Third Street from the city limits at Coal Grove to the rail crossing near AlliedSignal

In addition to information about the pros and cons of paving or keeping concrete along North Second Street, the informational meeting also will give residents an opportunity to review a city property sale.

"Also at this meeting, we will have informational packets about the sale of some city property on both Orchard and Second streets," Cleary said. "We want sell these parcels of property to builders for upscale houses. The specifics of the sealed bid process will be available at this meeting, and we will take public input on this issue as well."