East of Africa Update. State and County Line Traffic Troubles. United Voices In One Westerville Choir.
Alkyre Run Bridge Work Begins
One of the final major projects in the East Africa development area is located in the West Africa section. A new bridge is being constructed over Alkyre Run, a small creek that flows from the eastern edge of the Africa 88-acre site into Alum Creek, near the community center.
The bridge will span a rectangular concrete culvert, which will be placed in the streambed after the ground is reinforced to support the structure’s weight.
A temporary gravel silt dam has been installed at the entrance to the Yarnell Farm culvert. It connects the farm’s westernmost fields to the farmhouse and adjoining land across Africa Road.
In addition to the bridge work, construction crews will install 12-inch water and storm sewer lines before preparing the roadway connecting Africa Road to Westar Boulevard in front of the DHL building.
Earlier in The Westerville News
Wetland Restoration Planned Near Community Center
Westerville Parks and Recreation is also planning to restore the Alkire Run Wetland and Floodplain, located just behind the Community Center. The four-acre site will be redesigned to reduce stormwater runoff, improve water quality, and create new wildlife habitat.
The project involves realigning the stream to a more natural alignment, adding two acres of wetland buffer, and planting native trees and shrubs. The restored wetland will also feature wet meadow plantings, seasonal and semi-permanent wetland pools, and an overlook area for visitors. A pedestrian bridge across the area has already been installed to allow for public access. The restoration is expected to be complete by mid-2026.
County Line And State Traffic Delays
The normal flow of traffic at County Line and North State Street was interrupted for most of the day as contractors worked to replace underground cables and upgrade the traffic system electronics.
Crew began work after the morning commuter traffic and shut down for the day before the afternoon rush hour. Expect work to continue on Tuesday to complete replacing the underground cables after a blockage was found in one of the system’s conduits.
A Westerville police officer directed traffic at the turned-off signals in the afternoon.
One Westerville Choir Shines in a Night of Shared Voices
In the dim light of Westerville Central High School’s auditorium, faces glowed, lit by the blue-white light of cell phones. Parents and grandparents lifted their screens, recording their children on stage. From the back of the room, the scattered points of light flickered like fireflies.
The One Westerville Choir brought together students from Westerville Central, North, and South high schools for a community concert on Wednesday evening. Each school took a turn performing, then joined together for a finale that filled the stage from end to end.
The choir, launched last year by directors Laura Fahning (Central), Liz Brosius (North), and Darius McBride (South), aims to create unity through music—students from different schools singing as one.
While the students harmonized under the stage lights, the audience created its own quiet rhythm. Parents leaned forward in their seats, hands steady on their phones, trying to hold the moment still. Some watched through the screen, others through tears.
When the final notes faded, the lights of the phones remained for a few seconds longer, as if reluctant to go dark. Then applause rose from the crowd—an ovation not just for the music, but for the feeling of being together in one room, one city, one song.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
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