COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A frustrated motorist expressed their displeasure with an ongoing sidewalk project by spray-painting a sign with harsh words for the people behind the construction, but the city says the traffic inconvenience could be over sooner than expected.

A photo of the placard taken on Sinclair Road appeared on social media with the caption “Sign in the construction zone on my way to work.” The picture inspired several commenters to vent their irritation with the sidewalk-building process along the street.

“Haha I know the feeling. It’s real,” wrote one person.

Another made a tongue-in-cheek remark referencing the recent drought, “I’m sure it’s all the rain that’s causing the delays 😉.”

“I sense…..frustration….,” penned another netizen, picking up on the vibe of other commenters.

Driver Marnie Brannon took the photo, explaining in a message to NBC4 that the area has “been a traffic nightmare there, while they install sidewalks because of a new apartment block on Sinclair.”

While many people connect the sidewalk project with the construction of an affordable apartment housing project, due to their proximity, the Department of Public Service noted in an email to NBC4 that the two are not related. The Sinclair Family Apartments at 5055 Sinclair Road were built in 2023 on the former site of Alrosa Villa, a music venue that occupied the spot for decades.

A spokesperson for Columbus’s public service department said the effort to build sidewalks on both sides of Sinclair Road from Morse Road to Strimple Avenue began separately from the new housing.

“The Department of Public Service-led project to construct sidewalk along both sides of Sinclair Rd has been in the planning and design stages and right-of-way acquisition for a few years leading up to the start of construction earlier this year,” wrote Debbie Briner of the Department of Public Service. “And the city completed another separate project on Sinclair Rd first, to replace the culvert over Bill Moose Run, construct curbs and make pavement repairs and improvements to storm sewers and waterline in the culvert area.”

The good news for area commuters is that “the project is ahead of schedule for completion by next spring,” according to Briner. Orange barrels could be removed as early as this week.

Additionally, Briner listed several reasons projects might seem to take longer than necessary to people not involved in the construction, including relocating utilities, upgrading traffic signals, installing new curbs, replacing waterlines, and adding bioretention basins for stormwater management.

According to documents from the city clerk, Columbus City Council authorized the money for the sidewalks project in February. Council approved the Department of Public Service to enter into a contract with Shelly & Sands, Inc. with an “expenditure of up to $4,208,039.72 from the Morse Road TIF Fund and the Crosswoods TIF Fund for the project.”

Briner stated the city has paid about $1.8 million to the contractor to date.

“The city understands that residents and commuters who use Sinclair Rd may be suffering from construction fatigue since various projects have impacted traffic the past few years,” Briner wrote. “With our sidewalks project, we are working hard to minimize disruption as much as possible and keep construction moving. We are excited the community will soon have new sidewalks on both sides of the street to enhance safety and access for everyone who walks and uses the bus stops along Sinclair.”