The area east of Interstate 270 at the East Broad Street exit has been in a kind of construction limbo for years. Flanked by its main anchors — Mount Carmel East hospital and the sprawling Fair Lawn Memorial Gardens cemetery to its north — the area gives off a vibe of both urgency and serenity.
But continue eastward along this contrasting welcome mat and there's dramatic evidence of months of heavy construction and the promise of new development.
Two years ago, The Dispatch reported that Columbus had approved a $25.5 million contract to widen a mile-long stretch of East Broad east of the outerbelt and to improve numerous intersections and stretches of connecting roads. That work began, but hit some roadblocks.
"There was a considerable delay where
a utilitiy had to move and relocate underground utilities," said Debbie Briner, spokeswoman for the Columbus Public Service department.
Two years ago, dozens of residents spoke out against high traffic and few, if any, sidewalks in the area.
The city is adding sidewalk along one side of the mile-long corridor and a shared-use path along the other side, said Briner. Other improvements include upgraded traffic signals, pedestrian pedestals at new crosswalks with push-button activations to cross. Improved street lighting and street trees will be added, along with stormwater drainage improvements where necessary.
Upgrades will be made to these and other intersections: Taylor Station, McNaughten, Blossom Field Boulevard, Outerbelt Street, and Chris Perry Lane.
The first phase will be completed by fall of 2027, Briner said.
The second phase will include similar improvements from Outerbelt Street to Reynoldsburg-New Albany Road, also about a mile of Broad Street corridor. It is in right-of-way acquisition now until approximately spring 2027, Briner said.
Briner said much of the work is intended to improve safety.
"We were very concerned about the crash numbers and people coming off the freeway and still driving fast," she said.
Moving fast amid ongoing development
Also driving the road construction are several nearby development projects.
More than three years ago, Mount Carmel Health Systems vacated its corporate offices at 6150 East Broad St., a 461,000 square-foot building currently being demolished, said Mellissa Gallagher, hospital spokesperson. The 30-acre property is currently listed for sale at $12 million by CBRE, a global real estate company whose website says it would be ideal for a hotel, medical, corporate office, retail, or a mixed-use development.
And Columbus Works Commerce Center opened in December. The 368,000-square-foot, industrial and logistics park at 240 Corrina Drive provides warehouse and distribution space, with heavy use of trucks and deliveries.
Growth and development reporter Dean Narciso can be reached at dnarciso@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Road work delays, Mount Carmel demolition roil traffic along East Broad Street
