Active transportation users will have to adjust their commute on the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway as the Ohio Department of Transportation plans to start a resurfacing project on May 21.
According to the agency, the project includes preventative maintenance that will use a mastic surface treatment for the trail’s pavement, from the Currier Street parking lot in Athens and ending at Loop Road intersection near Hocking College — about 12 miles.
According to ODOT spokesperson Ashley Rittenhouse, the project engineer said sections of the bikeway will be closed while repairs are completed — “more of a rolling closure. As the contractor gets a repair done, it will reopen.”
Path users are urged to heed the “path closed signs” which will be posted at trailheads and access points as the project progresses.
“When actual paving begins, it should only take a couple days, and it will be a moving operation,” Rittenhouse said.
She noted that because of weather and the availability of materials, it is difficult to pinpoint exact dates and when certain locations will be closed.
According to ODOT, the project is expected to be completed around June 14, weather permitting. The estimated construction cost is $420,000.
In related news, the Athens County Engineer’s Office will receive approximately $1.44 million to construct a multi-use path along Johnson Road in The Plains, the road to get to Eclipse Mining Town, to connect the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway to State Route 682.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently announced that the project was among 27 new traffic safety projects to be awarded $40.9 million in funding. The projects focus on protecting pedestrians and preventing roadway departures in 21 counties.
There is currently a bikeway extension along Johnson Road that goes from Eclipse Mining Town to a parking lot at the bottom of the Athens High School property. The project would finish the connection to State Route 682. There is currently no sidewalk along the road that is heavily used by pedestrians as it leads to one of the main entrances to Athens High School.
“Our mission is to provide a transportation system that is safe, accessible, well maintained, and positioned for the future. However, safety shouldn’t be limited only to certain road types or locations,” said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks.
Funding for these projects comes from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Improvement Program. Funds will cover all project phases in state fiscal years 2025 through 2030. The bulk of the funding will go to local government entities like municipalities, townships, and county engineers.
A portion of the bikeway is still closed at Stimson Avenue for a project being done by the City of Athens.
According to the city, a new emergency and paddler-access point boat ramp to the Hocking River, as well as an adjacent outdoor fitness facility, is being built behind the new Athens Fire Department station.
“This project will enhance both recreational opportunities and emergency services in Athens, and also improve community physical fitness,” the city said in a press release.
While the sign closing off the path says it will be closed until June 16, the city had announced that the closure was expected to last until early July.
For information, call the office of the service-safety director at (740) 592-3340.
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