In early November, Old 81 Highway from Water Well Road to Mentor Road received an asphalt overlay. Placement of pavement overlays results in a vertical pavement edge drop off from the pavement driving surface down to the adjacent ground surface. This vertical pavement edge can make it difficult for motorists who drop a wheel off the edge of the pavement to take corrective measures to get that errant wheel back onto the driving surface. To help correct this situation, aggregate edging (a.k.a. an “edge wedge”) should be placed along the vertical edge of the pavement which will make it easier to steer back up onto the pavement surface.

Old 81 Highway from Water Well Road to Mentor Road will be closed to through traffic December 10th and 11th to permit Saline County Road and Bridge Department crews to place an “edge wedge” along both sides of this section of road. Closure of this section of road while the work is being done greatly enhances safety for the workers and the traveling public. In addition, closure will ensure that the work is completed as expeditiously and economically as possible for the taxpayers of Saline County. Of course, completion of the work is dependent on unforeseen conditions such as adverse weather.

Drivers who typically use this section of road are urged to seek alternate routes (I-135 or Ohio Street) and allow additional time to reach their destinations. Local and emergency traffic will be provided access to private property and businesses within the section of closed road at all times. The only times these properties may temporarily not be accessible could be during possible critical stages of construction when it is impractical to carry on construction operations and simultaneously allow local traffic.