By TAYLOR SHOOK
 

A major road construction project to make way for the future in southwestern Licking County is expected to begin in December, according to local government leaders.

The project will include widening 2,000 feet of state Route 310 between U.S. Route 40 and Interstate 70 and expanding the intersection of Route 310 and Route 40 to six lanes, including two westbound left-turn lanes to the new Amazon fulfillment center in Etna Township.

"The outcome is to accommodate existing businesses, Amazon, the 1,500 employees that will be there this year and the economic development that we are expecting in Etna Township," said state Sen. Jay Hottinger (R-Newark). "The real goal here is to meet the needs of motorists, long term."

Overseeing the improvements are the Licking County Engineer's Office and the county's Transportation Improvement District.

Bill Lozier, county engineer and secretary-treasurer for the TID, said the goal is to finish construction in spring of 2017, at the same time as the completion of an interchange at I-70 and Route 40.

"It's critical that we work as fast as we can so that traffic from the interchange doesn't back up onto I-70," he said.

Although construction is slated for December, Lozier said, weather conditions likely will not permit significant changes until March or April of 2017.

Motorists can expect some delays due to a reduced speed limit, but two lanes always will remain open to allow for traffic flow, Lozier said.

"There will be some delays, but it's short-term compared to the bottleneck that is the alternative," he said.