COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Better Call 4 first spoke with Columbus resident James McClendon in July 2022. He expressed concern about what he considered to be a lack of protection for pedestrians on a bike path along Interstate 670.

“It’s exposed to the freeway,” he said then. “There’s no guardrail system to protect the pedestrians on the bicycle path.”

McClendon called the city, then ODOT, then Better Call 4, and although it took some time, he finally got the results he’d been waiting for.

McClendon is a frequent user of the pedestrian trail that runs alongside I-670. He was concerned about what he considered to be a lack of safety near Leonard Avenue.

“I saw an enormous hole in the sound barrier wall,” he said.

McClendon later surmised that a vehicle had crashed in that area.

“The only thing that was there to stop it was a chain-link fence,” he said. “There was no guardrail or anything. I was very concerned. Concerned for my safety and everyone else’s safety, that would be on the bicycle path.”

McClendon said he noticed that further down the road, a portion of the path was protected by a concrete barrier which he said should continue along the entire path.

“That’s when I said, ‘I need to take action,’” he said. “First, I called the Ohio Department of Transportation.”

McClendon said he was disappointed with ODOT’s response.

“’Well, if we put a guardrail there, it’s going to be distracting to the motorists,’” he said, quoting ODOT’s response. “So, I’m thinking, ‘What about the pedestrians?’ Then I said, ‘Well, let me take it to the next level,’ and gave you guys a call.”

When Better Call 4 contacted ODOT, we got the same response.

“Adding structures alongside the highway also makes it more likely a driver hits it and is injured,” the state organization said.

The response continued, “Our team of safety engineers are studying this location and discussing options to ensure both the pedestrians using the trail and the motorists using the interstate are protected.”

Fast forward to 2024, and McClendon called Better Call 4 with an update.

“I’m driving down the highway, and I just happened to glance to my right, and what did I see? Well, a guardrail system!” he said.

The guardrail is in the exact area McClendon said it was needed two years ago.

An ODOT representative said the guardrail was installed as part of a construction project.

“This location was not part of the original project scope,” the representative said. “However, following additional analysis of the location, our Office of Traffic and Safety determined there was sufficient justification for the railing. When folks like Mr. McClendon reach out to us with concerns, especially about safety, we review those to determine if there’s an issue and if there are options available to address it.”

“Very happy and now I feel safe,” McClendon said. “When y’all got involved, y’all definitely escalated it and made a difference.”