Brick pavers that were originally intended to mark crosswalks at Hillsboro’s main uptown intersection but were installed in the wrong location were being permanently removed this week in preparation of a striping project this year and new street paving set for next year.
Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin told Hillsboro City Council on Monday that the pavers installed in the uptown intersection of High and Main streets are being removed in preparation for the upcoming work.
The pavers were originally intended to mark the crosswalks, but they were not installed in the correct location, ending up well before the crosswalk areas begin.
Wilkin said the pavers will be replaced by asphalt until the paving is conducted next year by ODOT. He said the pavers will be stored on pallets and possibly used for an uptown plaza project if that development comes to pass.
The idea of removing the pavers from the intersection was raised by Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings in a council committee meeting last summer. At the time, Hastings said he often heard from motorists and pedestrians who were confused by the current design at the four-way stoplight because they think the bricks serve as the crosswalks or the place where cars should stop.
Dick Zink, the former mayor, was at that August meeting, and said at the time that the bricked areas were a project prior to his administration. He said the bricks had to be reset at one time because they had not originally been properly installed.
In a notice sent Tuesday, the city said motorists can expect lane closures and delays as the city Public Works Department and a local contractor, Miller Mason, work to make improvements to the intersection.
The lane closures are expected to be from 8 a.m. to dusk and could last for up to two weeks, according to the notice. “We apologize, in advance, for any delays or confusion this work may create. Please contact 937-393-5219 for more information,” the notice stated.
Reach Gary Abernathy at 937-393-3456 or on Twitter @abernathygary.
