Road rage: Residents protest expanding Putnam County Road 5

PANDORA — Red flags set along Road 5 for a proposed road expansion have been joined by other signs protesting the expansion.

Putnam County plans to widen Road 5, on the east side of the county, between Leipsic and Pandora. The $10 million project has some residents protesting, though.

“We don't want this to be a designated truck route,” said Marilyn Horstman, of Ottawa, whose parents, Albert and Doris Nienberg, live along Road 5. “They plan to take Road 5 from a rural county road to a designated truck route.”

Horstman said she and other members of her family have gone up and down the road asking property owners if they are in favor of the expansion.

“We've given out close to 50 signs to property owners who don't want this to be a designated truck route,” Horstman said. “Many feel it's a safety factor.”

Wilma Richey, who lives north of Pandora on Road 5, agrees.

“I'm always concerned about the number of trucks going by my house,” she said “And I'm concerned how fast they are always going.”

Horstman also said there is a concern about how this will affect property values along the road.

The expansion of Road 5 has been under study since 1999. Troy Recker, with the Putnam County Engineer's Office, said with the development of the Leipsic Industrial Park, talks began about improving Road 5.

“We initially considered 22 different alternatives” he said. It was determined the best option was to widen 11 miles of Road 5 from state Route 65 in Leipsic south to state Route 12 in Pandora. The existing pavement, now 20 feet across, will be widened to 24 feet. The county has 40 feet of right-of-way for the road, Recker said.

“We will expand this to have a total of 60 feet of right-of-way,” he said. This will include additional space the county needs for the pavement aggregate berm and flattening the embankment along the road. The project also will require relocation of the power lines along the road.

Horstman said the expansion includes taking down many large trees in front yards.

“My parents have numerous trees they have been told will have to be cut down,” she said.

The cost for the entire project is $10 million.

Knowing they would have the costs of this project to pay, the county has been applying for various grants to assist with the costs. The county has been approved to receive a County Surface Transport Program grant for $5 million. Putnam County will pay $1 million into the project as their share.

“We want to stop this plan,” Horstman said. “I'm not against development. We just want them to find a better route using state highways for the truck traffic.”