A portion of the Olentangy bikeway likely will be closed for 18 months when the interchange at Interstate 270 and state Route 315 is constructed.

A portion of the Olentangy bikeway likely will be closed for 18 months when the interchange at Interstate 270 and state Route 315 is constructed.

Worthington City Council learned of the plans during its Oct. 20 meeting, and some members were not pleased.

Though it seems the city can do little to keep the path open, council members requested that the issue return for further discussion at a later meeting.

The portion of bike path to be closed is just north of the Olentangy Parklands tennis courts and north of the pedestrian bridge across the Olentangy River. That path leads to Worthington Hills.

The closing would occur during the project, which is scheduled for 2020, but it could happen earlier if funding becomes available.

In exchange for the interruption, the Ohio Department of Transportation will pay $250,000, which will go toward extension of the bike path north to Highbanks Metro Park, according to an agreement reached between Columbus and ODOT officials. Worthington representatives attended meetings on the deal, and council was asked to acknowledge the agreement.

Roughly 600 to 1,100 cyclists use that portion of the bikeway each day, council member Rachael Dorothy said.

"I'm really troubled we did not find out about this earlier," Dorothy said.

Worthington parks and recreation director Darren Hurley said he sees the closing as an opportunity to direct cyclists to the city's newest bike path, which connects the Olentangy Parklands with the Shops at Worthington Place.

Scott Myers, who ran the meeting in the absence of President Bonnie Michael and President Pro-Tem Bob Chosy, said the city cannot stop the closure, but he would like to see further discussion.

Also on Monday, council:

* Approved the rezoning of 2182 W. Dublin-Granville Road to allow the demolition of the former Key Bank. The lot will be combined with the lot next door at UDF, and a new UDF will be built on the resulting lot.

* Introduced an ordinance to extend by 18 months the subdivider's agreement with Monterra LLC for the construction of public improvements at the Monterra subdivision. The original agreement expired recently, and owner Marty Savko requested the extension. Monterra is the land on Olentangy River Road where Pat Bigler had planned to build the Michaela subdivision. When those plans fell through, Savko purchased the land with plans to build the subdivision under a new name.

* Introduced a tax-increment-financing district for the Old Worthington business district. A public hearing is set for Nov. 3.