With construction set to kick off next year on a project to widen a stretch of South Old State Road in the Polaris area, Delaware County officials are exploring the possibility of more work on the roadway.

Delaware County commissioners on Monday voted 2-0 to approve an engineering contract for a preliminary study on the road from Orange Road to Lewis Center Road.

“This is the very first phase of the engineering on this project so we’re years out from making a decision on moving forward with this project,” said Rob Riley, the county’s chief deputy engineer.

The study will determine what, if any, improvements need to be made on the roughly one mile stretch of road.

“With the section to the south getting so close to construction, we feel it’s appropriate to start looking at this section as well,” said Riley.

Construction is set to begin next year on a project to add one lane in each direction on South Old State Road from Abbey Knoll Drive to Wynstone Drive.

Turn lanes will also be added at Polaris Parkway and Orange Road.

The project is slated to cost about $22 million. The county is set to receive $17 million in federal funds for the project.

The work is necessary due to increased traffic in the area that has led to a large number of accidents.

Between 2006 and 2009, there were nearly 300 crashes on that section of the road, 250 percent higher than the statewide average for similar roadways.