Evergreen drops opposition to Vickers overpass



By Kelly J. Kaczala
Press News Editor


NORTHWOOD - Evergreen Recycling and Disposal Facilities, Inc., is dropping its opposition to the Vickers Crossing railroad overpass project.

An attorney for the solid waste landfill on East Broadway had sent a letter last December to the Ohio Department of Transportation objecting to the $10 million project because it would disrupt plans to expand its existing landfill facility.

The project called for the relocation of Wales Road to the south, and would fall within a 100-acre tract of land located adjacent to the company's existing landfill.

The property, said the company, is slated for expansion and would cost ODOT in excess of $2 million to acquire.

The company's opposition held up ODOT's plans to seek an upgrade of the project to Tier 1 from ODOT's Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) committee, where projects are guaranteed construction funding for the year.

Earlier this month, officials from the company, ODOT, and the city met with the city's Environment/Solid Waste Committee to find a resolution to the latest snag of the long-planned project.

Council President Dave Gallaher, chairman of the committee, said the company dropped its opposition after ODOT realigned Wales Road closer to the current Wales Road configuration, to minimize the project's impact on property owners to the south.

"The previous plan had Wales Road relocated farther south on the landfill's property," said Gallaher. "After review by our committee, ODOT, and Evergreen, everyone agrees the new designation has the best potential. Evergreen has indicated it would remove its opposition to the project."

The obstacle was a surprise to the city, where ODOT held public hearings on the project last year. It has been in the pipeline for several years but never came to fruition as a result of a lack of funding.

Governor Bob Taft sparked renewed interest three years ago when he established a $200 million grant for railroad overpass construction in the state.

"Potentially, Evergreen's opposition could have ended the entire project," said Gallaher. "The fact we could go over some things and come to an agreement has helped us tremendously. This gets us back on the right track."

Construction of the overpass will not have a negative impact on Wales Road, said Gallaher.

The overpass will reduce traffic congestion by eliminating two rail crossings, including Vickers, on Wales Road, and one crossing on Drouillard Road.

Another possible glitch, the proximity of high tension electrical wires along Drouillard Road, was also averted, said Administrator Pat Bacon.

"The realigned overpass is right next to some high tension towers, each of which costs $1 million to move," she said.

Toledo Edison, though, prefers that the towers be closer to the overpass where the lines are higher, said Bacon.

"As it turns out, they won't have to relocate the towers."

ODOT will move ahead with engineering designs on the project and seek Tier 1 status at a TRAC meeting in May, she added.

"ODOT will still have an informational meeting because it impacts residents of Northwood by taking property."

The railroads will contribute five percent toward the project. The city's share is $500,000.