Blueprint Columbus to begin Newton Bedford construction May 11; permeable pavers and three rain gardens planned

Blueprint Columbus will begin construction in the Newton Bedford project area on May 11, city representatives said at a community kickoff meeting. The work will install permeable pavement on multiple streets, add three regional rain garden basins and include underground sewer improvements aimed at reducing sanitary sewer overflows.

Cameron Carroll, a Blueprint Columbus representative, said the project targets four to five streets for pervious pavers and three regional basins at South Champion & Mulberry, Miller Avenue south of Kent, and Miller & Mulberry near I‑70. "If we can keep this rainwater out of our sanitary sewer system, we can eliminate a bunch of these problems," Carroll said, describing green infrastructure as a way to treat stormwater before it reaches treatment plants and nearby streams.

The project is part of the city's response to Ohio EPA consent orders, Carroll said, and is the local alternative to previously proposed tunnels. He told attendees that Blueprint covers about 18,400 acres across 21 project areas and that construction for some neighborhoods will continue into the 2030s and beyond; some project-area work is not expected to be complete until the 2040s.

Carroll described how permeable pavers and the underlying engineered aggregates capture and filter runoff, and said the pavers also calm traffic on streets with posted speeds of 25 miles per hour or lower. He added that the longest paver sections—Linwood and South 22nd—will be closed in staged sections, each lasting about nine weeks, while pedestrian access to sidewalks and front doors will be maintained.

The city will handle routine maintenance for the installations, Carroll said: permeable pavers will be serviced about twice a year; rain garden contractors will visit roughly twice a month (an inspection visit and a follow-up maintenance visit) and basins are engineered to drain within 48 hours so they do not become mosquito breeding grounds. Carroll urged neighbors to report illegal dumping or damaged plants and to avoid adding mulch, fertilizers or other materials to the basins.

Carroll also described private-property impacts and owner options. He said the public right-of-way—typically 30 to 60 feet from the center line—may include relocated utilities, and that 31 retaining walls and 44 sets of stairs in the project area will be replaced or added as needed. Impacted homeowners received impact cards and QR-coded surveys; Carroll said property owners who received an impact card must complete the survey by May 8 or the project team will select an HRC‑approved wall option on their behalf.

Work that affects front-yard elements will be followed by yard restoration one to two weeks after curbs and sidewalks are reinstalled, Carroll said. He asked residents to allow workers access to yards during scheduled work and to secure pets. The Blueprint outreach and engineering teams, including the project manager and engineers from Arcadis and Stantec, were available at an open house after the presentation to answer property-specific questions.

The meeting closed with a question-and-answer session in which residents sought clarification on tree replacement policy, construction hours, parking impacts and technical limits for lateral lining. Carroll said tree replacement occurs only where impact cards indicated it and follows the city's replacement policy; construction will remain within standard daytime hours and temporary parking restrictions will be put in place during active work.

The neighborhood open house with engineers and Blueprint staff remained available after the meeting for residents to review plans and ask address-specific questions.