LUCAS COUNTY, OH (Toledo News Now) - After several years of planning, county commissioners have approved the final agreement for the underpass project on McCord Road. Tuesday, they gave the Lucas County Engineer the green light to secure more land around McCord road beginning this spring.
"We are in the process now of acquiring property around that project to make sure that that project can be completed on time and on budget," said Pete Gerken, Lucas County Commissioner.
Every day almost 100 trains pass by on the Norfolk-Southern line. Lucas County engineer Keith Earley says the train traffic is only expected to increase, making this project well worth the $27 million price tag.
"We're expecting the train traffic to double, which people who live there and drive that daily, I can imagine what it would be like if the train traffic doubles. And, they are expecting that to incur within maybe 5 years," said Earley.
Earley believes there are many long term benefits. The project will save people money and time by not having to wait for a train. It will reduce pollution at the same time.
Construction is expected to begin after Memorial Day. Earley says the road won't close until 2015.
