Eminent domain OK for $17.5 McCord Road project Underpass at rail crossing set to be completed by 2017

Some of the property being sought by the county will be used to extend a street located east of South McCord to create a temporary detour over the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks while McCord is closed, and construct a retention pond and pump station.

“There are five owners we have not reached an agreement on the price for compensation for their properties,” said Mr. Earley, whose office is collaborating with the Ohio Department of Transportation on the project.

“We have asked the commissioners for permission to begin appropriation proceedings.

So far, the county has reached agreements with 11 property owners affected by the project, at a cost of $1,653,381. That includes Springfield Local Schools, which was paid $773,820 for land it controls along the railroad that will be converted into an embankment for temporary tracks. The school also was compensated for land to build a traffic roundabout at McCord, Hall Street, and North Mall Drive.

With the acquisition of the school property, the county has secured all the land it needs south of the railroad tracks for the project.

In anticipation of the project, the county bought the former Wickes Lumber Co. on the east side of McCord for $855,000 in 2010. Storage buildings that were part of the lumber yard will be demolished to make way for the temporary street that will connect North Mall to Angola Road.