Bypass on the way

A spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Transportation said Tuesday that the Nelsonville U.S. Rt. 33 bypass project is proceeding right on schedule, though he predicted that its biggest local economic and employment impacts are still to come.

"œIt sure is (moving ahead)," reported Dave Rose of ODNR's Marietta-based District 10, which serves Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Vinton and Washington counties. "œI'm going to be stopping down there this afternoon to check some things out."

The first phase of the project, which was not funded by federal stimulus money, is already complete. Phase II and III had a groundbreaking in October; this part of the project represents the biggest single expenditure of federal stimulus funds in the state.

The second phase consists of 3.16 miles of four-lane highway earth moving and 4.56 miles of four-lane paving, plus the west interchange.

Phase III work "started just on Friday," according to Rose. "They started some of the blasting, and filling in the mine voids and things like that."

Phase II was contracted in August to the Kokosing Construction Co., a $45.2 million contract. The Phase III contract, worth almost $93 million, has gone to Beaver Excavating from Canton.

Rose said that the biggest economic impacts of the project will probably be seen in its later phases, however.

"Usually the bulk of your employment is going to be in the middle of the project, when everything's happening," he said.

Phase III starts near Doanville, and will focus on building 3.87 miles of four-lane highway, according to ODOT. Also included in Phase three is the construction of the U.S. Rt. 33/Ohio Rt. 78/Ohio Rt. 691 interchange. The project will reroute Rt. 78 1.63 miles through the Happy Hollow Area to create the interchange.

The entire project is scheduled to be completed by July 31, 2013.