ASHLAND — A major thoroughfare in Ashland is one step closer to getting more pedestrian friendly.
Ashland City Council unanimously agreed to enter into a $360,000 contract with American Structurepoint, Inc., the firm tapped to design multi-use paths along a one-mile stretch on the north and south sides of U.S. Route 250.
The entire project — from Sugarbush Drive and County Road 1575 — is estimated to cost $1.8 million and will include an 11-foot wide multi-use path on the south side and a 6-foot wide path on the north side.
The city is in line to receive a $1.6 million grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, which will cover the lion share of the cost.
ODOT said funds from the program will cover all project phases. Ashland’s multi-use path project is one of several covering 27 traffic safety projects in 21 counties in that timeframe.
The project, which will include the installation of two signalized crosswalks, is slated to begin in 2026.
Council president Steve Workman said Ashland City Council and the administration supports making the city more pedestrian friendly.
“This is huge progress toward that end,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll see more in the future.”
The design phase of the project is expected to begin as soon as possible.
Since the improvement will be within the city’s limits, Ashland will be in charge of maintenance.
ODOT data on “roadway departure crashes” showed 615 fatalities in 2023. Pedestrian-involved crashes resulted in 150 deaths across Ohio last year, the agency stated.