March 23, 2001
Questions asked about loop road
By Jefferson Wolfe
Staff Writer
Jacksonville Township resident Steve Naderer did his research.
At Thursday's special meeting of the Jackson Township Trustees, he asked Fostoria Mayor John Davoli why trucks would use the proposed loop road around the city if it would be a longer drive and take more time.
Naderer said he drove US 23 from Jones Road to Zeller Road, which a loop road would bypass. The distance was 3 1/2 miles and it took him 8 minutes to drive through town.
He also drove as much of the east-side loop as he could, because some of the road do not exist. He estimated the total distance at about 7 miles and the time at 11 minutes.
By law, Davoli said, trucks would have to use the loop, unless they had a delivery in the city, because the state and U.S. highways in the city would be re-routed there.
Another reason is because there would be less congestion and fewer stops than in town. Also, designers would do everything they could to make the loop faster and easier, he said..
"I would bet very much on it," Davoli said. "Even if its longer, they would take this way."
The loop road is needed to relieve pressure on the city's streets, he said. It also would help spur economic development in the area, including the townships.
"Are some people going to be affected by this or get hurt by the road? Yes, they will," Davoli said.
However, if the Ohio Department of Transportation builds the road, it would do so in the way that affects the fewest people and makes the most people happy, the mayor said.
The intersection of CR 592, CR 47 and SR 12 in Jackson Township would be one of the most difficult to design, Davoli said. A number of residents from that area were at the meeting. CR 47 and CR 592 would be used if the proposal goes through as it is, and some houses could be lost to the project.
Township Trustee Larry Steyer suggested routing the loop to Weaver Road, which was recently improved for truck traffic.
Herm Wonderly, who lives at the intersection of Weaver Road and CR 592,
said he was concerned about the increase in noise and other truck-related problems if it went past his house. He said he would rather have the state buy his property.
"You go right through the front door, and it's yours," Wonderly said.
Not only would ODOT buy the property if the road goes through it, the department would buy a property if a new road is within a certain distance, Davoli said. The department also would put up noise barriers like walls, dirt mounds and trees, he said.
Wonderly said traffic would be traveling at very high speeds if allowed.
"From my point of view, I'd like to keep it as low as possible," Davoli said. The speed limit on some parts of the loop would have to be kept low because of the configuration of the road, he said.
If ODOT would approve the project, it would probably be done in parts, Davoli said. Which parts would be done first would be determined later. The loop road could be completed in five to 10 years, he said.
Davoli has given the loop road presentation to three of the four townships that surround Fostoria. He is to speak Monday night at the Perry Township hall in Wood County.