A portion of a key Pickerington thoroughfare will be closed next week as the city replaces a drainage pipe damaged by a storm last year.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 23, Hill Road North will be closed between Courtland Lane and Meadows Boulevard.

The closure could extend through Sunday, Nov. 30, as crews from Beheler Excavating Inc. replace a six-foot wide culvert which carries waters from the Willow Run stream under Hill Road North.

However, city officials are hopeful the work will be done sooner.

"For each day that the contractor opens the road early, he gets a $1,000-per-day incentive payment," said Greg Bachman, Pickerington city engineer. "For each day that the contractor keeps the road closed beyond seven days, $1,000 per day is deducted from his payment."

During the closure, traffic on Hill Road North - one of the most traveled roadways in the city - will be redirected.

"If coming from the north, the detour is Diley Road to Long Road to West Columbus Street," Bachman said. "If coming from the south, the detour is West Columbus Street to Long Road to Diley Road.

"Local traffic will still be able to use Hill Road North to get to their house (or) business."

Bachman said a large rainstorm that struck the city last year resulted in bank erosion to Willow Run. Large water flows from the stream damaged the stormwater drainage pipe under Hill Road North.

Although the construction costs for the project are $77,335, the city will pay just $11,562.

The remaining $65,773 will be funded through an Ohio Public Works Commission grant.

"The culvert replacement work is important because the safety of the public is of paramount importance to us," Bachman said. "The existing culvert is damaged and needs to be replaced.

"It is important to replace the culvert before we go through another winter and spring season that could further damage the culvert or wash it away. It is a temporary inconvenience to avoid a potential future larger expense and/or longer road closure."