LEWIS CENTER — Closed since March, East Powell Road is now open at Lyra Drive.
The City of Columbus closed the road on March 21 to build a new roundabout in Orange Township.
“This project will extend Lyra Drive from the Lyra Drive extension project terminus to East Powell Road,” said a notice about work. “A new roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of Lyra Drive and East Powell Road. Improvements include lighting, drainage, waterline, sanitary, sidewalk, shared use path and landscaping.”
The Columbus Department of Public Service said construction cost $3,016,200, and right-of-way acquisition cost $250,000. CT Consultants designed it starting in 2019, and right-of-way acquisition took place last year. The contractor was Double Z Construction.
Orange Township received an $82,125 grant from the Delaware County Board of Commissioners to help build a multi-use path on the north side of East Powell Road. The path was originally going to be part of the Powell Road widening project but was scrapped. With the funding, the path should be built next fall.
Another project, near East Powell Road, is the widening of Bale Kenyon Road.
“This project will include grading, drainage, curb and gutter, and construction of a shared use path on the west side of the road,” wrote Trustee Erica Fouss in the township’s Fall Newsletter. “Tree clearing along the entire route, from Orange to East Powell Road is 95% complete with utility relocation expected to start mid-October. We anticipate the project construction to start next summer. Residents who travel this road frequently will enjoy the widened road once it’s finished.”
Also in the township, this post sought help for a different park project: “Veterans Day is just around 2 months away! A great way to give back and serve the community is sign up for the Heroes Not Forgotten 5k Run/Walk on November 12, 2022, 9 a.m. to noon!” the post said.
More information on the event is available at https://racepenguin.com/events/heroes-not-forgotten/. Money raised during the event will go towards the planned Orange Township Veterans Memorial.
In other township news, there was this post on Facebook from the Fire Department: “This past Sunday, members from our team and those who were close to Trever Murphy walked 1-mile in his honor. Trever was an Orange Township Firefighter/paramedic and Veteran when he took his life.”
For more information about Trever and the Trever Murphy Memorial Foundation, visit https://www.trevermurphymemorialfoundation.org/.
