Greetings!

The gas service shutoff installation has been completed south of Washington Square to Charles Street, and will now move into the section of downtown north of Washington Square. Traffic will be maintained in this section of downtown during this process.

You will notice that the traffic pattern in Washington Square has changed since last week. The Federal Highway Administration believed the previous pattern was unsafe, and eastbound traffic on Mansfield Street will no longer be able to turn left (north) onto Sandusky Avenue. Learn more about this change below in the Detour Information section.

All the businesses in the current work area are accessible via their front doors. We are doing the best we can to accommodate businesses and their customers during the project, but we have to restrict pedestrian traffic across Sandusky Avenue because of safety and liability issues inside the construction area. We encourage you to patronize all of the downtown businesses during, and after, the Downtown Revitalization Project!

Presently, the contractor has 2 crews on-site working 4-10 hour days to help move the project along in a more timely manner. The workers will do their best to accomodate for pedestrian traffic in the downtown during the project.

As we've stated before, and will continue to stress, we are committed to doing our best throughout this project to maintain local traffic access to the downtown business. There will be times that require a shut down of specific areas, but we are working diligently to minimize any local traffic shutdown.

Thank you for your patience during this project. Our hope is that this project will lead to a more prosperous Bucyrus!

Sincerely,

Dan Ross, Mayor
Sid Seevers, Service-Safety Director

While the scope of the project hasn't changed, many small tasks are being completed. The subcontractor installing the new gas service shutoffs has completed their work from south of Washington Square to Charles Street. The subcontractor will now move to the section of downtown north of Washington Square to begin gas service shutoff installation. Traffic will be maintained in this area during the installation work.

Removal of the old pavement was delayed and should start the week of April 26th. Once the pavement is removed, crews will begin to build the "subgrade" for the new road. If all goes well the week of the 26th, the contractor is hopeful that they can begin installation of curbs from south of Washington Square to Charles Street in the same week. However, please be mindful that the completion of these tasks is dictated by the weather.

The city is anticipating this section of the project to be completely finished in 8-10 weeks, weather permitting.

We, along with the contractor, will do everything we can to maintain local traffic access to downtown businesses in these areas. Safety is of the utmost importance, and is the primary reason for any and all detours around certain sections of the downtown. When a full detour is required, we will have electronic signage at each end of the detour promoting downtown merchants open for business, and the use of alternative entrances to these businesses.

Project Tasks
Listed below is a schedule of project tasks for the downtown revitalization project. Throughout the phases of these tasks, every attempt will be made to maintain local access to the downtown businesses.

Project Task - Installation of Gas Service Shutoff
Location No Parking Project Task Dates
North of Washington Square to South of Perry Street Local Traffic Maintained to work area Ongoing


Project Task - Pavement Removal & Subgrade Installation
Location No Parking Project Task Dates
South side of Charles St. North to South side of Washington Square Local Traffic Maintained to work area Ongoing

Due to requirements from the Federal Highway Administration, there is a new traffic pattern in Washington Square. All eastbound traffic on Mansfield Street will no longer be permitted to turn left (north) on Sandusky Avenue. Eastbound traffic must go around the square and turn right at the traffic light to proceed north on Sandusky Avenue. Southbound traffic on Sandusky Avenue will be permitted to turn left (east) onto Mansfield Street in the middle of Washington Square. Barrels & signage have been installed to provide instructions related to this traffic pattern change.

The area of downtown from the south side of Charles Street north to the south side of Washington Square is closed. Traffic flowing east to west on Charles Street, Warren Street and Rensselaer Street will not be permitted to cross over Sandusky Avenue. To pass east to west through town, you will need to use Mary Street, Mansfield Street or Oakwood Avenue.

Stop signs have been installed east bound at the intersection of Mansfield Street and Sandusky Ave. as we had to take the traffic signals down. Detour signage placed at the St Rt 4 & 98/Beale Avenue intersection, as well as the St Rt 4 & 98/Irving Street intersection, are intended to divert semi-truck traffic away from the downtown area.

Two electronic message boards have been placed at each end of the downtown area. One at intersection of Oakwood Avenue and Sandusky Avenue, and another at the intersection of Perry Street and Sandusky Avenue. These message boards are promoting the downtown businesses as being open, and encourage individuals to use the rear entrances of the business in the work area.

In the area of Perry Street south and within Washington Square, the front entrances of local businesses WILL BE ACCESSIBLE and local traffic WILL BE PERMITTED in this area for now.

Every effort is being made to maintain local traffic through the downtown area. If a full detour is required, we will communicate with you when, and if, a closure is necessary. We will also employ the use of electronic message boards at each end of any and all full detours to help promote the local businesses as open.

We appreciate everyone, including the downtown businesses, being patient with us during this challenging time of the revitalization of the Bucyrus downtown.


The general contractor for our project, Anderzack-Pitzen Construction, sent a letter to all business owners along Sandusky Avenue regarding the project. If you didn't receive the letter, you can read it by clicking here.

The Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce has provided a list of employee offstreet parking options for downton businesses. View a letter from Chamber Executive Director Deb Pinion for full details.

In our continued efforts to support and advertise your business during the downtown revitalization, the City of Bucyrus would like to offer your business an opportunity to do an informational video to be aired on the Bucyrus Access Channel. The video will be filmed and produced by Gary Hess at your business.

The purpose of the video will be to let your customers know that you are open for business during the downtown construction, your business hours, available off-street parking for your business, and the rear entrance for your business (when applicable).

If you are interested in utilizing this service, please call the Mayor's office (419-562-6767 ext. 221) or email the office (bucyrus@cityofbucyrusoh.us) to schedule an appointment for your business.