New City Projects in the Works

Emergency vehicles will soon have a more direct route to Genesis Hospital.

The Zanesville Public Service Committee met Wednesday to discuss a variety of issues, including the extension of Bethesda Drive for emergency vehicle access. As traffic congestion near the hospital can be problematic, City Engineer, Chip Saunders said this new road is necessary.

“So the application that was put forth is to put up a flashing signal on Maple Avenue and to put a one lane road, basically an entrance, over to existing Bethesda Drive, that if we have a squad vehicle heading up Maple Avenue it will turn the traffic coming southbound, they’ll see a red light so they’ll stop, the ambulance can turn right into this new road and go straight back up Bethesda Drive to the emergency room,” Saunders said.

The city is receiving the funding through a TID grant and the project is scheduled to be completed by May of next year. Saunders said emergency vehicles having a more accessible route to the hospital could help save lives.

“It’s important that we get these emergency vehicles as quickly to their destination as possible, with the location as it is right now to try to head up Bell Street and work through that and make that left turn, moments count, seconds count, that’s the thing that I think the benefit will be, getting them a direct path to the hospital,” Saunders said.

Saunders said contractors are also preparing to pave city streets, including Center Drive and Bell Street, both are scheduled to be completed by this fall.