City of Gahanna Action to Address Hamilton/Granville Intersection Safety

To enhance the safety of pedestrians and motorists, construction has begun at the Hamilton/Granville intersection in Gahanna.

The work, which is currently under way, is collectively known as the “Hamilton/Granville Intersection Improvements Project.”.  Work on the road and medians near the intersection  is scheduled to be completed in early November, with additional work on sidewalks and traffic signals to be completed as necessary through November.

The Hamilton/Granville Intersection Improvement project was originally planned to be completed prior to the start of the 2011/2012 school year as to not interfere with school operations.  However, the improvements on this project introduced many conflicts with existing utilities.  

In preparation of the upcoming roadway work a major gas line and 14 AEP power poles were to be relocated.  The gas line work was completed in the winter and new poles were placed in late spring.  Unfortunately the work to transfer the overhead utilities (including power, cable and phone) to the new poles was extensive and required action from multiple entities who had to fit the work into their project schedules. 

The City worked closely with the various utility providers to move this process along as quickly as possible; however, the utility companies set their own schedules and the work was not completed by the time the project was to begin.  This delay has forced the project to be performed during the school year.

Upon completion, the project will introduce many new features that will enhance the safety of the intersection, including:

• Wider sidewalks and crosswalks. Sidewalks will be widened from 4 feet to 7.5 feet at all four corners of the intersection. Additionally, the crosswalks will be widened from 10 feet to 15 feet, with the addition of prominent transverse striping to increase the visibility of the crosswalk.
• Pedestrian refuge islands. On all four legs of the intersections, pedestrian refuge islands will be installed within the crosswalks between opposing lanes of traffic. The islands will be outfitted with buttons that will trigger the walk signals if needed, providing a safer crossing environment.
• Electronic ‘No Turn On Red’ signs. At all four approaches to the intersection, ‘No Turn On Red’ electronic signs will be installed. These signs will be activated when the pedestrian crossing buttons are pushed, reducing right turn on red conflicts when pedestrians are present.
• Additional walk time. From 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., walk time at the intersection will be increased from 7 second to 15 seconds to account for the increased pedestrian traffic during school hours.
• Additional lighting. Lighting will be added to the signal poles at the four corners of the intersection, providing greater visibility in the early morning and during winter months.
• Extension of the 20 mph school speed zone. The 20 mph school speed zone will be extended west on Granville Street (to Donatos) and  north on Hamilton Road (to McDonalds) to incorporate the Hamilton/Granville intersection and the area around Clark Hall into the school zone.

During construction, lane closures near the intersection will occur between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. These limited construction hours ensure that all lanes remain open for the morning and evening commutes, as well as during school bussing operations.

To further aid pedestrian safety during construction, only one corner of the intersection will be worked on at a time. Additionally, the City of Gahanna is continuously monitoring the traffic signal timing at the intersection and adjusting it accordingly to increase traffic flow as well as to maintain the safety of pedestrians in the cross walks.

The City of Gahanna is committed to maintaining a safe environment for motorists, pedestrians, and students at Gahanna Lincoln High School during this construction process. The City is constantly communicating with the schools and the construction company working on the intersection to ensure that a safe crossing environment is maintained.

Since this project is being managed by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), we have been working closely with ODOT and the contractor to establish a new construction schedule and minimize the impact of the delays.  Moving forward, the current project schedule shows a completion date of November 15^th with most of the work involving lane closures to be wrapped up by November 1^st.

Upon completion, the “Gahanna/Hamilton Intersection Improvements Project” will introduce many improvements, creating a safer intersection for students and pedestrians to cross while providing motorists the directions they need to move through the intersection safely.