State project connects Greene County college campuses

Surveyors Tom Ezerski, left, and Jacob Goodman were in Wilberforce on Monday to prepare for the installation of a new sidewalk along U.S. Route 42 that will connect Wilberforce University and Central State University. The sidewalk will parallel State Route 42 between Brush Row Road and Bickett Road. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

Surveyors Tom Ezerski, left, and Jacob Goodman were in Wilberforce on Monday to prepare for the installation of a new sidewalk along U.S. Route 42 that will connect Wilberforce University and Central State University. The sidewalk will parallel State Route 42 between Brush Row Road and Bickett Road. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

A new sidewalk will connect two historically black universities in Greene County, where students from either campus can earn credit toward their degrees by taking classes at the other institution.

The new pavement will be laid along U.S. 42 between Brush Row and Bickett roads, connecting Wilberforce University with Central State University and improving safety.

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Work started this week on the $200,000 project, said Brian Cunningham, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Transportation District 8.

Cunningham said the project calls for 700 feet of sidewalk, and it’s expected to be finished at the end of this month.

“There’s no sidewalk out there now. Students must walk along side the road to get to each campus. The sidewalk will provide a separation for pedestrians and bikes from cars and trucks,” Cunningham said.

Workers were out surveying the land on Monday as the project got underway.

Wilberforce and CSU students not only socialize on their respective campuses, they use the route a lot to attend classes on either campus, said Charles Shahid, CSU’s chief government relations officer.

Shahid said there has always been a crosswalk across U.S. 42, but never sidewalks.

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“This is a project that enhances the safety for students as they walk along Route 42 and across 42 between Wilberforce and CSU,” Shahid said.

Shahid said CSU students are currently on summer break. The campus populations will be low while the sidewalk work is completed, he said.

Cunningham said motorists can expect periodic lane closures to accommodate the work, but flaggers are expected to keep traffic flowing.

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