Medina Reconsiders Route 42 Resurfacing Bid

City Engineer proposes scaling back project to focus on road repairs amid higher-than-expected costs.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 1:36pm

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The city of Medina, Ohio is looking to modify the scope of a planned resurfacing project for state Route 42 after receiving a single bid for $3.2 million, significantly higher than the original $1.9 million budget. City Engineer Patrick Patton suggested removing pedestrian bump-outs from the project to lower costs, while keeping the core road resurfacing work. Council is considering whether to include the bump-outs as an add-alternate in case costs change.

Why it matters

The resurfacing of Route 42 is a critical infrastructure project for Medina, as the road is in dire need of repairs. However, the higher-than-expected bid price has forced the city to reevaluate the project's scope to stay within budget. This decision balances the need for road improvements with managing costs, and could impact future plans to enhance pedestrian safety in Medina's town square.

The details

Last year, the city authorized a $1.9 million budget to resurface Route 42 from Homestead Street to Lafayette Road, and also install pedestrian bump-outs in the town square. After receiving no bids at that price, the city increased the budget to $2.1 million, but still only received one bid for $3.2 million. Patton now proposes removing the bump-outs from the project to lower costs, while keeping the core road resurfacing work. Council is considering whether to include the bump-outs as a separate add-alternate in case costs change over time.

  • In July 2025, the city originally authorized a $1.9 million budget for the Route 42 resurfacing project.
  • In late 2025, the city increased the budget to $2.1 million but still received only one bid for $3.2 million.

The players

Patrick Patton

The city engineer of Medina, Ohio, who is proposing to modify the scope of the Route 42 resurfacing project to focus on road repairs and remove pedestrian bump-outs.

John Coyne

The president of the Medina City Council, who is considering whether to include the pedestrian bump-outs as a separate add-alternate in the bid package.

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What they’re saying

“We are requesting that we set aside the bump-outs from the project. Talking to contractors, it is the bump-outs that are creating a lot of the added costs. That is something we could come back to later, but Route 42 is in dire need of resurfacing.”

— Patrick Patton, City Engineer

“I know right now we are really looking at the whole square to improve safety. I think the streets and sidewalks committee is meeting in the next week or two and we want to keep the ball moving forward.”

— John Coyne, Council President

What’s next

The city's streets and sidewalks committee will meet in the next week or two to further discuss the Route 42 resurfacing project and the potential inclusion of pedestrian bump-outs.

The takeaway

Medina's decision to modify the scope of the Route 42 resurfacing project highlights the challenge of balancing infrastructure needs with budget constraints. By removing the pedestrian bump-outs, the city can move forward with critical road repairs, while potentially revisiting safety enhancements in the future as funding allows.