COLUMBUS, Ohio — Major changes are coming to East Broad Street near McNaughten and Tayler Station roads.
Columbus City Council approved $25 million to expand East Broad Street to help with congestion and safety. The City of Columbus said 65,000 [people travel on East Broad Street every day.
“This is very much needed on east broad street. It’s a very fast-growing part of Columbus that has seen a lot of growth in the last 10 years,” said Kelly Scocco, the director of department of public service for the city.
Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla said the project will improve safety because they are also building a bike path and adding turn lanes to intersections.
“This includes addition including sidewalks, lighting, storm water drainage systems, signal and interconnection systems,” said Barroso de Padilla.
However, Alyssa Von who lives nearby said she’s not sold on the idea that it will be safer.
“In the evening commute I have trouble just turning out of my division,” said Von. “If there is an EMS driver trying to get through, there’s drainage ditches, there is a place where there is a rail. There is nowhere to get over,” she added.
Part of her concern is just last week, council approved an apartment complex on McNaughten Road near where the widening will be happening. Von worries that development will bring more people to an already busy area.
“The community is most interested in helping and preserving the safety on that road. That’s what we wanted council to listen to, but they did not listen to us,” said Von.
Council said the next step is giving the contractor a notice to proceed, that will take place on July 19.