The number of construction projects in the campus area is growing by one. Construction on the intersection of Lane Avenue and High Street is underway.
Lane Avenue will be widened and realigned under the project because of safety and traffic concerns, said Mark Richard, project manager with the Transportation Division of the City of Columbus.
“Right now it’s unsafe and too narrow,” Richard said.
Drivers traveling on Lane Avenue and High Street are unable to turn left in any direction at the intersection, which not only is an inconvenience to drivers but also to more commercial traffic on the residential streets in the area, Richard said.
The construction project will square off the intersection, allowing drivers to turn left onto High Street or Lane Avenue.
In order for the project to be executed, Alcatraz nightclub and UniversiTees had to be torn down. This portion of the project is being handled by The Colvin Company and began Monday, construction worker Robert Haskins said. Haskins said Tim Colvin, who is in charge of the demolition, does not plan to take long on the project.
“He is probably going to want to get out of here on Friday,” Haskins said.
The city bought the property area, which included Alcatraz and UniversiTees, from Epic Properties in the fall after lengthy negotiations. Once the project is completed, the portion of the property left will revert back under the ownership of Epic, Richard said. However, this does not mean the area will be redeveloped.
Pella Company serves as the property manager of the land under construction. Christos Bavelis, who works in Pella’s office, said the city offered the property back to Epic Properties upon completion of the intersection but Epic declined. Instead a sum of money was paid to Epic by the city.
Bavelis said as far as he knows, there are no plans to redevelop the land after construction commences. This would leave an empty lot on the corner of Lane Avenue and High Street.
The lanes on Lane Avenue will be narrowed and a left turning lane will be added. No lanes will be added on High Street, but the road will be restriped in order to create a left turning lane, Richard said.
Richard said the entire project, which includes the installation of sidewalks, should be complete by December.
However, the actual road will be finished before by July, Richard said.
