Geist’s first roundabout, which was scheduled to complete this fall, is one year behind schedule. According to Joel Thurman, a transportation engineer with the Hamilton County Highway Department, acquiring the land rights along 96th Street and Fall Creek Road has taken more time than they thought. Land needs to be acquired by Hamilton County to widen 96th Street east of Mollenkopf Road and the property around the new roundabout itself, most of which is land owned by Geist Harbours Property Owners Association (“GHPOA”). April of next year is the new scheduled start date.
“We should have all the land rights we need by next February so we can open up the project for contractor bids,” he said. “When we’re dealing with so many landowners, these types of delays are typical.”
The GHPOA board just recently accepted $52,500 for their .221 acres where the current Masthead monument signage resides. Hamilton County originally offered $32,350 which included a $6,600 allowance to move the black granite signage. Dr. John Moore, chairman of the GHPOA grounds committee, said the $6,600 was not enough money to move the sign. He worked with the County to get enough money to rebuild the monument and landscape it on the north exit of the roundabout on the east side of Fall Creek Road.
“You can’t move a sign like that without breaking it,” said Dr. Moore. “We will try to salvage the black granite and as much electrical as we can.”
When construction begins next April, 96th Street between Fall Creek Road and Mollenkopf Road will be completely closed. Traffic along Fall Creek Road will be restricted at times, but never closed throughout the project.
“People might have to wait on a flagger or be diverted around parts of the roundabout, but we won’t close Fall Creek at any time,” said Thurman.
The $3.2 million project is expected to complete next fall.
Visit the Hamilton County Highway Department project website.