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1. When will the project begin?

A contract will be awarded in the fall of 2021. The majority of construction will take place in 2022, but some preliminary work is possible in late 2021.

2. Why doesn’t it start sooner?

Federal and State funding will assist in a substantial portion of project funding. We must wait until this funding is available; the City would pay 100% of the cost otherwise.

3. How is this project being paid for?

The total estimated cost is $4.5 million. It will be paid for as follows:

• Federal Highway Safety Funds - $1.1 million (24%)
• ODOT Small Cities Program - $1.45 million (32%)
• City of Galion share - $1.95 million (44%). License plate tax revenues, state and local gas tax revenues, and the issuance of notes will be used.

4. Will the highway be closed during construction?

No. Temporary pavement will be installed on one side of the project area. We are still determining which side to place the temporary pavement on. The temporary lanes will be 11 feet wide, which is narrower than the current lane width. Commercial traffic and other large vehicles will have a commercial detour route.

5. How much will the road be extended on each side?

This is a symmetrical widening. Eight feet will be added on each side, increasing the roadway width from 24 feet to 40 feet.

6. Will properties with frontage on 598 lose some of their land?

Federal rules must be followed for all land acquisition. Most of the property takes are temporary during construction, and the widened roadway will fit within the existing right-of-way. Actual property line dimensions are not expected to change, although this will be reviewed case-by-case.

7. I live or work within the project area. What should I expect?

Road construction is often messy, inconvenient, and loud. While access to driveways will be maintained during construction, expect a rough ride and travel delays getting through the project area. In your yard, only a minimal amount of digging for the widened portions of road is necessary. The contractor will instead use a cement stabilization material in the subgrade of the road surface. The contractor is responsible for moving and replacing mailboxes. Any other obstructions you may have will be reviewed case-by-case.

8. What happens to the driveways for homes and businesses?

The section of driveways within the construction area will need to be torn out. After road work is completed, the end of driveways will be reconstructed with like materials (asphalt drives will receive asphalt, concrete drives will receive concrete).

9. Are traffic signals or other improvements included?

No. After the project is complete, the City of Galion will fund an updated traffic study on the SR 598 corridor to look at changes in traffic patterns and the impact of any future commercial growth. This study could warrant additional traffic signals.

10. Will sidewalks and curbing be included?

No sidewalks or curbing are included in the project scope. Both items significantly increased the project cost.