4 The Legend—April 2014
District 3 Employee News Dates to Remember
4/22 Earth Day
5/10 Mother’s Day
5/17 Armed Forces Day
5/26 Memorial Day
(ODOT Closed)
6/15 Father’s Day
John R. Kasich
Governor
Jerry Wray
Director
Allen C. Biehl, P.E.
District Deputy Director
April 2014
What’s inside…
DDD Corner
Customer Kudos
Move Over Law in Effect
Employee News
Get to Know...
Jobs & Transportation Plan Projects
The Legend District 3 Employee Newsletter
Governor John Kasich’s Jobs & Transpor-
tation Plan is fueling a $2.5 billion
statewide construction season—the larg-
est ever– that will put more Ohioans
back to work building some of the
state’s largest transportation projects.
Just a few years ago, ODOT was
forced to push back many transportation
projects communities needed in order to
improve motorist safety and local eco-
nomic vitality, sometimes by decades. In
response, Gov. Kasich challenged the
Department to think outside of the box
by unlocking the value of the Ohio Turn-
pike to bond $1.5 billion to help fill the
gap. That money, combined with federal,
state and local investments over the next
six years, will allow for nearly $3 billion in
new infrastructure spending, and much
of that work begins this construction
season.
Statewide, ODOT will spend $2.5
billion building 936 projects. The Ohio
Turnpike is partially or entirely funding
multiple phases of several projects
around northern Ohio, including the re-
construction of State Route 57 in Elyria.
The SR 57 project was the official site
for the Construction Kickoff event held
last week as District 3’s Public Infor-
mation Office invited members of the
media and community to hear the an-
nouncement of the District’s 2014 con-
struction season by DDD Allen Biehl.
District 3 will construct 81 projects
totaling over $135 million this season.
Motorists will see construction continued
from last year or begin on a number of
larger projects around north central
Ohio. Among the highlights of the 2014
D-3 program include:
*Bridge replacement on SR 89 over I-71
in Ashland County
*Rehabilitation & widening of SR 61 and
SR 598 in City of Galion
*Intersection improvement at US 250
and Strub Road in Sandusky
*US 250 bridge replacement in Fitchville
*Railroad grade separation project on SR
58 in the village of Wellington
*Bridge rehabilitation on SR 611 over I-
90 in the City of Avon
*Major rehabilitation of SR 57 between I-
90 and Ohio Turnpike in City of Elyria
*I-76 rehabilitation from SR 57 to Sum-
mit County line
*I-71 south to SR 303 ramp clear
interchange project in Brunswick
*Resurfacing of nearly 16 miles of SR 603
in Richland and Ashland Counties
*SR 95 resurfacing from Knox County
line to the village of Perrysville
*Smooth seal of US 250 Flack Highway
south of Wooster
*Improvement of SR 585 in Wayne
County
The entire list of projects under con-
struction this year can be viewed online
or through a brochure published by the
District Public Information Office.
Get to know…
Tom Pavlik Tom Pavlik is an HT 3 in Ashland County.
“Tom has embraced the role as the senior-
most HT3 in Ashland County and has es-
tablished himself as not just a leader
amongst his peers but a positive mentor in
the county as well. He plays a large role in
performing work list items and assisting in
developing work items as well. With his
very diverse skill range and strong
knowledge of the county landscape & depart-
ment operations, Tom has become a key com-
ponent to the Ashland County team,” said
County Manager Brad Mayes.
Family: Dad, 1 brother & 2 sisters
Pets: two cats
Hobbies: Cooking & Smoke BBQing
Book last read: 1776 by David McCullough
Favorite Movie: Mars Attacks
Favorite TV show: Game of Thrones
Favorite restaurant: Chinatown
Favorite website: allrecipes.com
Favorite vacation spot: Lake Tahoe
My pet peeve: Apathy
Favorite song: Can’t you hear my knocking
by the Rolling Stones
The ringtone on my cell is: Xylophone
The talent or superpower I wish I had was:
Time Travel
Least favorite chore: Laundry
If I could change one thing about myself it
would be: To stop aging
Favorite sports team: Cleveland Browns
First job: Road maintenance at Cinnamon
Lake
Best advice I ever received: Don’t sweat the
small stuff
Nobody knows I: Well, if I say, then everyone
will know!
Who, living or dead, would you most like to
have dinner with: Regg Rader, he was taken
too soon
Reclassification
Dan Wahsum from
HT 1 to HT 2 in
Wayne County.
Promotions Dawn Roxberry to
Transportation Engi-
neer 3 in Planning &
Engineering.
Walt Keener to HT 5
in Test Lab.
Brian Balduff to
Transportation Tech
Specialist in Con-
struction.
Employee Service Awards The awards were
handed out to the
following employees:
5 Years
Ryan Blair
Don Clodwick
Brad Corder
Joe Estepp
Pam Hunt
Mark Klenk
Bryan Shakley
Doug Webb
10 Years
Dustin Brown
Eric Calvert
Dennis Denman
Shawn Rogers
Chip Smith
Bill Wright
15 Years
Christine Jones
Jeff Labaki
Brenda Mayes
Bryan Prise
Todd Scott
Dana Sillman
20 Years
Walt Keener
Rick Minniear
Gary Schimmel Jr
Jeff Sprang
Craig VanHorn
25 Years
Ossama Abdallah
Kevin Capizzi
Stefan Feitl
Jim Kenyon
Sheila Knallay
Kim Reed
Nancy Rohn
Mike Schafrath
Bobbie Slater
Matt Slone
Dennis VanHouten
Ed Yetzer
30 Years
Bruce Dalton
Al Ellis
Mark Simcak
Centerpieces of State’s 2014 Construction Season
In this month’s photo banner: Beams are set
in place above the Vermilion River on the
$2.6 million US Route 250 bridge replace-
ment project in Fitchville
3 The Legend—April 2014 The Legend—April 2014 2
Ashland 53
Crawford 138
Erie 68
Huron 14
Lorain 166
Medina 19
Richland 6
Wayne 131
District 45
*thru March1
*
While the
weather in
Ohio remains
fairly unpredictable,
one thing is certain—
construction season is
upon us. As work zones and
orange barrels begin to sprout
up across the District, it is a good
time to remind every one to work
safely every day; after all, safety begins
with each of you.
ODOT is partnering closely with the OCSEA, the
American Traffic Safety Services Association, the
Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, and the
Department of Public Safety to aggressively outreach to the
public by educating them on the recently enacted Move Over
Law, which you can read more about on Page 3. Part of the
public outreach includes radio ads, posters, and bumper stick-
ers. Very soon, all ODOT employees will receive bumper stick-
ers for their personal vehicles and eventually state vehicles.
The record number of maintenance projects this summer
will have many of our Highway Technicians out on our road-
ways in work zones across the District. Similarly, our HT 2s will
be heading out to the construction field in an effort to gain
hours to further advance in the HT series this season perform-
ing work within some type of a construction zone.
On the other hand, not all of us here will be actually per-
forming work in a work zone, it is likely that at some point
this summer season, we will all have to drive through them as
we travel.
A new study by the Associated General Contractors of
America recently revealed that 45% of highway contractors
had vehicles crash in to their work zones just last year. The
best way to improve safety is for motorists driving through
these work zones is to be more careful and pay attention; ex-
pect the unexpected; do not speed; and follow all traffic signs
and flaggers. As simple as it sounds, ensuring proper work
zone safety starts and ends with cautious drivers and cautious
workers.
Safety depends on you. Please make safety a priority in
the work each of you do every day. Even better—share the
safety message with your family and friends who drive our
highways. Never let safety take a back seat to the job func-
tions you perform.
As always, stay safe.
Al
From
the
Dis
tric
t
Dep
uty D
irec
tor
With the record breaking construction season this year,
coupled with local maintenance work plans, work zones will
be operational all around the state each day.
ODOT, along with the Ohio Turnpike and many other
public safety entities across the state, are working together
this year to promote the need for safe driving in Ohio’s
work zones to note Ohio’s expanded Move Over Law.
“The most effective way we’ve found to reduce work
zone crashes is to work with law enforcement and increase
their presence, and this year we have a new tool in our tool
box to do just that: Ohio’s Move Over Law,” said ODOT Di-
rector Jerry Wray.
Ohio’s Move Over Law is designed to protect the lives
of everyone who works on or uses our roadways. The law
requires all drivers to move over one lane (or slow down if
changing lanes is not possible) when passing by any vehicle
with flashing or rotating lights parked on the roadside.
Even the smallest mistake can be deadly when driving
through a work zone. In Ohio, there were 4,373 crashes in
work zones last year, including 1,118 injury crashes and 19
fatalities. From 2008 through 2012, ODOT vehicles and
equipment were struck 590 times by passing vehicles.
This issue is so serious that fines are doubled for failing
to move over—or slow down in a work zones if changing
lanes is not possible—when passing any vehicle with flash-
ing lights on the side of the road. Violators are fined $300
for the first violation (a minor misdemeanor); $500 for the
same violation within the same year; and $1000 for more
than two violations within a year.
“Increasing public awareness of the penalty for failing
to move over for a stationary emergency, law enforcement
or highway maintenance vehicle will save lives,” said OTIC
Executive Director Richard Hodges. “The penalty is strong
outside of work zones and it’s doubled inside work zones.”
The original Move Over Law took effect in 2004 to re-
duce risk to law-enforcement officers, emergency respond-
ers and tow operators. It was expanded in December 2013
to apply to every stationary vehicle with flashing lights, in-
cluding road construction, maintenance and utility crews.
Across the nation, hundreds of people are killed or in-
jured every year when they're struck by a vehicle after pull-
ing over to the side of the road or highway. On average,
these "struck-by" crashes kill one tow-
truck driver every six days; 23 highway
workers and one law-enforcement of-
ficer every month; and five firefighters
every year. Tragically, stranded motor-
ists are also struck and killed.
The state agencies are being joined in
the effort by the Ohio Department of
Public Safety, the Ohio Civil Service
Employees Association, the Internation-
al Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Ohio
Contractors Association, the American
Traffic Safety Association, and the Tow-
ing and Recovery Association of Ohio.
More information is available at Move-
Over.Ohio.gov on this law.
Thank you for my new mailbox. -Yvonne Curry, State Route 545, Mansfield, 3/19/14
I drive from Wakeman to Clyde almost everyday for work
and this past winter, ODOT did a pretty good job of keeping
the roads as clear as possible. For some reason, they were
more aggressive this year at clearing the roads. Good job!
-Mike Thornburg, Wakeman, 3/14/14
Congratulations to the District 3 Construction team of Randy Patti, Jim Burchfield and Bob Weaver! The
US Route 6/State Route 101 railroad grade separation project team recently won an International Part-
nering award. The team won the 2014 Partnered Project of the Year Award, Ruby Level from the Inter-
national Partnering Institute, the second highest award, which will be given out on May 15. The Part-
nered Project of the Year award is given to teams who distinguish themselves by implementing the IPI’s
best practices and by building high-trust work relationships on their projects. Winning teams demon-
strated commitment to the partnered process, achieved excellent results and delivered an outstanding
projects. The same project team recently won a Category 2 award at the 2014 Conaway Conference.
Al Biehl and Tim Farley were selected to speak at the 105th Annual
Meeting of the Mid-America Association of State Transportation Officials
(MAASTO) this July in Indianapolis with a discussion on ‘Planning for the
Future-County Work Plans.’ The conference consists of ten state transportation
agencies and presents information on upcoming trends and exchanging ideas for the
benefit of the transportation industry. Congrats to Al & Tim on their selection!
Co-Worker & Customer Kudos
Mr. Biehl:
Thanks to all of you for what you do.
This winter was a rough one. I appre-
ciate ODOT for keeping our roads
safe. I work in long-term care, and
we have to be at work each day.
Again, thank you!
God Bless,
-Laura Boyd, West Salem, 4/1/14
3 The Legend—April 2014 The Legend—April 2014 2
Ashland 53
Crawford 138
Erie 68
Huron 14
Lorain 166
Medina 19
Richland 6
Wayne 131
District 45
*thru March1
*
While the
weather in
Ohio remains
fairly unpredictable,
one thing is certain—
construction season is
upon us. As work zones and
orange barrels begin to sprout
up across the District, it is a good
time to remind every one to work
safely every day; after all, safety begins
with each of you.
ODOT is partnering closely with the OCSEA, the
American Traffic Safety Services Association, the
Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, and the
Department of Public Safety to aggressively outreach to the
public by educating them on the recently enacted Move Over
Law, which you can read more about on Page 3. Part of the
public outreach includes radio ads, posters, and bumper stick-
ers. Very soon, all ODOT employees will receive bumper stick-
ers for their personal vehicles and eventually state vehicles.
The record number of maintenance projects this summer
will have many of our Highway Technicians out on our road-
ways in work zones across the District. Similarly, our HT 2s will
be heading out to the construction field in an effort to gain
hours to further advance in the HT series this season perform-
ing work within some type of a construction zone.
On the other hand, not all of us here will be actually per-
forming work in a work zone, it is likely that at some point
this summer season, we will all have to drive through them as
we travel.
A new study by the Associated General Contractors of
America recently revealed that 45% of highway contractors
had vehicles crash in to their work zones just last year. The
best way to improve safety is for motorists driving through
these work zones is to be more careful and pay attention; ex-
pect the unexpected; do not speed; and follow all traffic signs
and flaggers. As simple as it sounds, ensuring proper work
zone safety starts and ends with cautious drivers and cautious
workers.
Safety depends on you. Please make safety a priority in
the work each of you do every day. Even better—share the
safety message with your family and friends who drive our
highways. Never let safety take a back seat to the job func-
tions you perform.
As always, stay safe.
Al
From
the
Dis
tric
t
Dep
uty D
irec
tor
With the record breaking construction season this year,
coupled with local maintenance work plans, work zones will
be operational all around the state each day.
ODOT, along with the Ohio Turnpike and many other
public safety entities across the state, are working together
this year to promote the need for safe driving in Ohio’s
work zones to note Ohio’s expanded Move Over Law.
“The most effective way we’ve found to reduce work
zone crashes is to work with law enforcement and increase
their presence, and this year we have a new tool in our tool
box to do just that: Ohio’s Move Over Law,” said ODOT Di-
rector Jerry Wray.
Ohio’s Move Over Law is designed to protect the lives
of everyone who works on or uses our roadways. The law
requires all drivers to move over one lane (or slow down if
changing lanes is not possible) when passing by any vehicle
with flashing or rotating lights parked on the roadside.
Even the smallest mistake can be deadly when driving
through a work zone. In Ohio, there were 4,373 crashes in
work zones last year, including 1,118 injury crashes and 19
fatalities. From 2008 through 2012, ODOT vehicles and
equipment were struck 590 times by passing vehicles.
This issue is so serious that fines are doubled for failing
to move over—or slow down in a work zones if changing
lanes is not possible—when passing any vehicle with flash-
ing lights on the side of the road. Violators are fined $300
for the first violation (a minor misdemeanor); $500 for the
same violation within the same year; and $1000 for more
than two violations within a year.
“Increasing public awareness of the penalty for failing
to move over for a stationary emergency, law enforcement
or highway maintenance vehicle will save lives,” said OTIC
Executive Director Richard Hodges. “The penalty is strong
outside of work zones and it’s doubled inside work zones.”
The original Move Over Law took effect in 2004 to re-
duce risk to law-enforcement officers, emergency respond-
ers and tow operators. It was expanded in December 2013
to apply to every stationary vehicle with flashing lights, in-
cluding road construction, maintenance and utility crews.
Across the nation, hundreds of people are killed or in-
jured every year when they're struck by a vehicle after pull-
ing over to the side of the road or highway. On average,
these "struck-by" crashes kill one tow-
truck driver every six days; 23 highway
workers and one law-enforcement of-
ficer every month; and five firefighters
every year. Tragically, stranded motor-
ists are also struck and killed.
The state agencies are being joined in
the effort by the Ohio Department of
Public Safety, the Ohio Civil Service
Employees Association, the Internation-
al Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Ohio
Contractors Association, the American
Traffic Safety Association, and the Tow-
ing and Recovery Association of Ohio.
More information is available at Move-
Over.Ohio.gov on this law.
Thank you for my new mailbox. -Yvonne Curry, State Route 545, Mansfield, 3/19/14
I drive from Wakeman to Clyde almost everyday for work
and this past winter, ODOT did a pretty good job of keeping
the roads as clear as possible. For some reason, they were
more aggressive this year at clearing the roads. Good job!
-Mike Thornburg, Wakeman, 3/14/14
Congratulations to the District 3 Construction team of Randy Patti, Jim Burchfield and Bob Weaver! The
US Route 6/State Route 101 railroad grade separation project team recently won an International Part-
nering award. The team won the 2014 Partnered Project of the Year Award, Ruby Level from the Inter-
national Partnering Institute, the second highest award, which will be given out on May 15. The Part-
nered Project of the Year award is given to teams who distinguish themselves by implementing the IPI’s
best practices and by building high-trust work relationships on their projects. Winning teams demon-
strated commitment to the partnered process, achieved excellent results and delivered an outstanding
projects. The same project team recently won a Category 2 award at the 2014 Conaway Conference.
Al Biehl and Tim Farley were selected to speak at the 105th Annual
Meeting of the Mid-America Association of State Transportation Officials
(MAASTO) this July in Indianapolis with a discussion on ‘Planning for the
Future-County Work Plans.’ The conference consists of ten state transportation
agencies and presents information on upcoming trends and exchanging ideas for the
benefit of the transportation industry. Congrats to Al & Tim on their selection!
Co-Worker & Customer Kudos
Mr. Biehl:
Thanks to all of you for what you do.
This winter was a rough one. I appre-
ciate ODOT for keeping our roads
safe. I work in long-term care, and
we have to be at work each day.
Again, thank you!
God Bless,
-Laura Boyd, West Salem, 4/1/14
4 The Legend—April 2014
District 3 Employee News Dates to Remember
4/22 Earth Day
5/10 Mother’s Day
5/17 Armed Forces Day
5/26 Memorial Day
(ODOT Closed)
6/15 Father’s Day
John R. Kasich
Governor
Jerry Wray
Director
Allen C. Biehl, P.E.
District Deputy Director
April 2014
What’s inside…
DDD Corner
Customer Kudos
Move Over Law in Effect
Employee News
Get to Know...
Jobs & Transportation Plan Projects
The Legend District 3 Employee Newsletter
Governor John Kasich’s Jobs & Transpor-
tation Plan is fueling a $2.5 billion
statewide construction season—the larg-
est ever– that will put more Ohioans
back to work building some of the
state’s largest transportation projects.
Just a few years ago, ODOT was
forced to push back many transportation
projects communities needed in order to
improve motorist safety and local eco-
nomic vitality, sometimes by decades. In
response, Gov. Kasich challenged the
Department to think outside of the box
by unlocking the value of the Ohio Turn-
pike to bond $1.5 billion to help fill the
gap. That money, combined with federal,
state and local investments over the next
six years, will allow for nearly $3 billion in
new infrastructure spending, and much
of that work begins this construction
season.
Statewide, ODOT will spend $2.5
billion building 936 projects. The Ohio
Turnpike is partially or entirely funding
multiple phases of several projects
around northern Ohio, including the re-
construction of State Route 57 in Elyria.
The SR 57 project was the official site
for the Construction Kickoff event held
last week as District 3’s Public Infor-
mation Office invited members of the
media and community to hear the an-
nouncement of the District’s 2014 con-
struction season by DDD Allen Biehl.
District 3 will construct 81 projects
totaling over $135 million this season.
Motorists will see construction continued
from last year or begin on a number of
larger projects around north central
Ohio. Among the highlights of the 2014
D-3 program include:
*Bridge replacement on SR 89 over I-71
in Ashland County
*Rehabilitation & widening of SR 61 and
SR 598 in City of Galion
*Intersection improvement at US 250
and Strub Road in Sandusky
*US 250 bridge replacement in Fitchville
*Railroad grade separation project on SR
58 in the village of Wellington
*Bridge rehabilitation on SR 611 over I-
90 in the City of Avon
*Major rehabilitation of SR 57 between I-
90 and Ohio Turnpike in City of Elyria
*I-76 rehabilitation from SR 57 to Sum-
mit County line
*I-71 south to SR 303 ramp clear
interchange project in Brunswick
*Resurfacing of nearly 16 miles of SR 603
in Richland and Ashland Counties
*SR 95 resurfacing from Knox County
line to the village of Perrysville
*Smooth seal of US 250 Flack Highway
south of Wooster
*Improvement of SR 585 in Wayne
County
The entire list of projects under con-
struction this year can be viewed online
or through a brochure published by the
District Public Information Office.
Get to know…
Tom Pavlik Tom Pavlik is an HT 3 in Ashland County.
“Tom has embraced the role as the senior-
most HT3 in Ashland County and has es-
tablished himself as not just a leader
amongst his peers but a positive mentor in
the county as well. He plays a large role in
performing work list items and assisting in
developing work items as well. With his
very diverse skill range and strong
knowledge of the county landscape & depart-
ment operations, Tom has become a key com-
ponent to the Ashland County team,” said
County Manager Brad Mayes.
Family: Dad, 1 brother & 2 sisters
Pets: two cats
Hobbies: Cooking & Smoke BBQing
Book last read: 1776 by David McCullough
Favorite Movie: Mars Attacks
Favorite TV show: Game of Thrones
Favorite restaurant: Chinatown
Favorite website: allrecipes.com
Favorite vacation spot: Lake Tahoe
My pet peeve: Apathy
Favorite song: Can’t you hear my knocking
by the Rolling Stones
The ringtone on my cell is: Xylophone
The talent or superpower I wish I had was:
Time Travel
Least favorite chore: Laundry
If I could change one thing about myself it
would be: To stop aging
Favorite sports team: Cleveland Browns
First job: Road maintenance at Cinnamon
Lake
Best advice I ever received: Don’t sweat the
small stuff
Nobody knows I: Well, if I say, then everyone
will know!
Who, living or dead, would you most like to
have dinner with: Regg Rader, he was taken
too soon
Reclassification
Dan Wahsum from
HT 1 to HT 2 in
Wayne County.
Promotions Dawn Roxberry to
Transportation Engi-
neer 3 in Planning &
Engineering.
Walt Keener to HT 5
in Test Lab.
Brian Balduff to
Transportation Tech
Specialist in Con-
struction.
Employee Service Awards The awards were
handed out to the
following employees:
5 Years
Ryan Blair
Don Clodwick
Brad Corder
Joe Estepp
Pam Hunt
Mark Klenk
Bryan Shakley
Doug Webb
10 Years
Dustin Brown
Eric Calvert
Dennis Denman
Shawn Rogers
Chip Smith
Bill Wright
15 Years
Christine Jones
Jeff Labaki
Brenda Mayes
Bryan Prise
Todd Scott
Dana Sillman
20 Years
Walt Keener
Rick Minniear
Gary Schimmel Jr
Jeff Sprang
Craig VanHorn
25 Years
Ossama Abdallah
Kevin Capizzi
Stefan Feitl
Jim Kenyon
Sheila Knallay
Kim Reed
Nancy Rohn
Mike Schafrath
Bobbie Slater
Matt Slone
Dennis VanHouten
Ed Yetzer
30 Years
Bruce Dalton
Al Ellis
Mark Simcak
Centerpieces of State’s 2014 Construction Season
In this month’s photo banner: Beams are set
in place above the Vermilion River on the
$2.6 million US Route 250 bridge replace-
ment project in Fitchville
Top Related