Grand Opening Today for Old Hilliard’s Franklin Street, Redesigned by Woolpert

The city will host a ribbon-cutting event with walking tours and local vendors from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

HILLIARD, Ohio  — The grand reopening of Franklin Street will take place from 4:30-6:30 p.m. today, June 17, at the corner of Franklin and Main streets in Hilliard, Ohio. Woolpert provided engineering, design and survey services for the redesign of the roughly 600-foot stretch of Franklin Street, from Main to the Landmark Lofts apartment building, and a portion of Columbia Street. The four-year, $2.4 million project is intended to improve walkability, safety, parking and aesthetics, while lessening the street’s environmental impact.

Woolpert Engineer and Project Manager Nathan Fischer said the Franklin Street redesign accommodated as much of the existing conditions as possible, complemented regional development and connected this area of Old Hilliard with the look of the city’s downtown. Franklin Street hosts a mix of residential and commercial buildings.

“The road had no curbs and people were often parking in their front yards due to the lack of defined usable space,” Fischer said. “The corridor is tight, with buildings at or near the property lines, which was a challenge. We ensured all garages and doors functioned well with the roadway design, while we adjusted grades to improve drainage and better define the space.”

The project included installing curbs, sidewalks, pedestrian-scaled street lighting, on-street parallel parking with permeable brick pavers to treat stormwater, landscaping, water main replacement and sewer lining. Woolpert was assisted by subconsultants GPD Group, CTL Engineering, Lawhon & Associates, and O.R. Colan Associates.

“This project contributes to the city’s continued dedication to making Old Hilliard a walkable community,” said Hilliard Deputy City Engineer Letty Schamp. “The new Franklin Street also supports the city’s commitment to improving drainage in Old Hilliard through environmentally friendly green infrastructure.”

Fischer said the celebration planned for tonight is reflective of the city’s focus on building a cohesive, thriving community.

“Hilliard is a well-run, family-friendly city that supports business growth and redevelopment,” Fischer said. “We appreciate the city trusting us with this project. The project weathered a number of changes and challenges over the course of the design and construction. We are proud of the completed project and the collaboration between the city, Woolpert and our design team. The transformation of the street is remarkable, and I hope residents enjoy the streetscape and the added connectivity to downtown Hilliard.”

About Woolpert
Woolpert is committed to a vision to become the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, and one of the best companies in the world. It’s a vision we’ve been fine-tuning for decades. It guides our decisions and investments, provides our clients with optimal solutions and offers our employees unrivaled opportunities. Woolpert is recognized as a Great Place to Work by its employees and is America’s fastest-growing AEG firm. With more than a century of experience, close to 1,000 employees and 30 offices, Woolpert supports public, private, federal, and U.S. military clients nationally and around the globe. For more information, visit woolpert.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram