Progress on the East Main Street construction project has developed since the end of the Spring semester. The project aims to add roundabouts at the Horning Road and Willow Street intersections and transform the front campus to enhance user safety.
Since the beginning of the spring semester, a temporary roundabout at the intersection of East Main Street and Horning Road has been installed. Horning Road was closed from Theatre Drive and Loop Road, with new relocated access open across from Overlook Drive. Work on the gas line installation has since been completed.
In the most recent update on the project on the City of Kent website from May 6, the stone retaining wall in front of the University’s Williamson House is currently being rebuilt.
Work to install new catch basins and storm sewers on Horning Road from Loop Road to Theatre Drive also took place. In addition, a concrete curb was scheduled for installation in front of the Kent United Church of Christ.
Those interested in updates on the project can email senior engineer Jon Giaquinto. Updates are sent out about biweekly.
An email update from May 15, written by Giaquinto, explains that the storm sewer work on Horning Road was complete. There will be concrete work to build sidewalks, curbs and driveway aprons, as well as preparations for the new asphalt pavement. Horning Road will open after this work is completed.
“We want to get Horning Road to a point that it can be opened for traffic this summer,” Giaquinto said in the email.
Other work includes permanent restoration of East Main Street from Depeyster Street to Willow Street, and the paving of the east leg of the roundabout.
According to the email update from May 21, the construction contractor closed down Midway Drive from East Main Street and Terrace Drive around May 26, which could overlap with closures on Horning Road.
The email stresses the importance of completing the work on Midway Drive before the start of the fall semester.
A map provided to clear up confusion about navigating construction shows Terrace Drive, Theatre Drive and Jackson Drive will have functioning bi-way vehicle traffic throughout the summer. Sidewalks along those roads are not expected to be impacted by construction.
Sidewalks along East Main Street are expected to close intermittently during construction work, but single-lane traffic in each direction with a center turn lane will be maintained.
The R-4 lot by the Administrative Services Building will be closed, but there will be access from the sidewalk on the southwest side of the building.
Outside of the email updates, Giaguinto does not have new updates to share yet.
“I think sometime in July we may have a better expectation for what the traffic patterns will be on East Main for the fall semester,” Giaguinto said.
Giaguinto also confirms that the temporary roundabout will remain in place until the permanent roundabout is completed.
Updates on the project can be found on the City of Kent website. Questions can also be sent to Giaguinto by email at [email protected] or by phone at 330-678-8106.
Loreal Puleo is a staff writer. Contact her at [email protected].
