The Fairborn engineering department had a public meeting on Jan. 7 to get input on the design for the second phase of the project. Fairborn City Engineer Lee Harris said the city is leaning toward the first of two options, which keeps a shared use path on the west side of the road, after hearing what Fairborn residents had to say.
Harris said about 40 residents attended the meeting.
Construction of the first phase of the project will begin this summer, and after the design for the second phase of the project is completed, construction for the second phase is budgeted to begin in the summer of 2021.
The first phase of the project will cost about $3.6 million, and the second phase is estimated to cost $4.5 million, Harris said.
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A 10-foot wide shared use path will be added along the entire length of the road.
The project will also narrow the street to one lane of traffic each way and add a turn lane in the middle.
Harris said many residents were concerned with speeding on Maple Avenue. Narrowing the road should help slow drivers down, he said. The city will also be adding Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons at intersections, which would alert drivers to a pedestrian wishing to cross the street.
“We’re very aware of the speeding issues, and we’re taking steps to reduce the speeding,” Harris said.
Along with replacing the road, the city will replace the water lines underneath Maple Avenue. The water lines under the second phase of the project, from Doris to Five Points, will be widened in the project.
During construction, drivers will be detoured onto Central and then Kauffman Avenue. Harris said crews will work to keep at least one lane of traffic open to drivers during the project.
“I know it will be an inconvenience to drivers, but I would urge them to drive carefully and slowly so that we can keep our construction workers and our drivers safe,” Harris said.
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