Nov. 7--LIMA -- Utility work on Elida Road is a sign of things to come. Next year is the big year for longplanned major changes to the busy stretch, from just west of Eastown Road to Robb Avenue.

The Ohio Department of Transportation will install a six-inch raised curb down the road's center and eliminate the center left-turn lane in the $5.5 million project. Left turns will be restricted to certain signalized intersections, which will also include U-turns, said project administrator Dan Kaseman.

The city of Lima and contractors for American Electric Power, Dominion and CenturyLink are moving water lines, gas lines and utility poles. Work should be done in about a month, Kaseman said.

The state will have a contractor on the project by March and hold a public meeting in which property owners can meet the contractor and field manager supervising the project. The state will also soon publish a brochure reminding businesses on the stretch about the project, so they can prepare for it.

The project will start in the spring and be completed by Oct. 1, in time for holiday traffic, Kaseman said.

The state has settled with owners of all property it needs, except for 12 parcels, and has appropriated them. The state will continue negotiations or have a court determine the value of the land.

Recent settlements include pieces of land near the intersection of Elida and Cable roads. ODOT will pay a total of $38,546 to H.I. Heritage Inn for property and easements at 2179 Elida Road, the Fairfield Inn location. It will pay a total of $16,800 to Sellati Bros. Inc. for easements and pieces of land at 2143 and 2151 Elida Road, a shopping plaza and former location of Car Quest, which relocated farther west on Elida Road. It will pay $300 to Towns Edge Car Wash for an easement at 2172 Elida Road.

The property transfers were recorded Nov. 2 and 3 with the Allen County Recorder's Office.

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