Mentor Enters Agreement for Heisley Project Funding

The next phase of work on Heisley Road won't take place until next year, but at least Mentor officials know where the money will come from.

City council has applied for and will receive $5 million in federal funds to widen Heisley Road to four lanes, from Jackson Street to Mentor Avenue. City Council voted for the city to enter into the necessary "Local Let" and real estate agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation needed to secure the funds, acquire the right of way and carry out the bid process and construction management.

The total cost for the project is $7.6 million. The federal funding is split into two groups, with only the $2.6 million in Surface Transportation Program money requiring a 50 percent local match.

"It won't begin any earlier than next year," Mayor Ken Filipiak said. "We're still acquiring right of way and there's a ton of steps."

The project is the third of phase of the ongoing Heisley project. The first two phases included widening the Northeast side of side of the street and a railroad crossing just after Jackson.

The current Heisley Road bridge work at Route 2 is unrelated. That project is expected to be complete in October.