Library Upgrades Disrupt Patterns - Hempstead Road Bridge Repairs Continue
Construction projects change how visitors access Westerville Public Library
A trip to the Westerville Public Library may take a little extra planning this summer as construction closes entrances, reduces parking, and brings equipment and noise to the property.
The library remains open, but visitors must use the parking lot entrance on the east side of the building while work continues on the front lawn. The State Street entrance is closed.
Library Road has also temporarily become a one-way street. Drivers should enter the parking lot from East Walnut Street and use Library Road only when leaving.
Parking is more limited because a large section of the rear lot is closed for roof repairs. Accessible spaces may be moved temporarily, and additional parking is available at Whittier Elementary School through Aug. 12, according to the library.
Officials are asking visitors to follow posted signs and allow extra time to park and enter the building.
The work on the front lawn goes well beyond repairing the entrance. The library is redesigning the entire area, which was developed about 20 years ago.
Construction began April 15 and is expected to continue through Sept. 30, although that schedule could change.
Plans include permanent seating, shade structures, colorful murals and a space for library performances and other events. Visitors will also find interactive features such as giant cattail wind chimes, a log tunnel and a stepping-stone path.
The project is designed to make the area easier and safer to navigate. Improvements include a step-free entrance, wider sidewalks, a ramp to the performance area and illuminated handrails. Crews will also add lighting, improve walking surfaces and address stormwater runoff.
The design will use salvaged ash wood, recycled glass, native plants and additional trees. Library officials say the changes will make better use of the property, help reduce street noise and make the State Street entrance easier to see.
Roof repairs are creating another round of disruptions. That work began July 6 and is also expected to continue through Sept. 30.
The project is the second part of a four-phase roof repair program. The section now being repaired dates to about 1980 and was roughly 45 years old when the work was planned.
Library officials say the repairs should help prevent water damage, strengthen the building, lower energy costs and make the children’s area more comfortable.
The project follows roof replacement work completed in 2023. At the time, the library said that phase focused on some of the building’s oldest roof sections and was expected to improve energy efficiency and protect the building from leaks.
Visitors may hear construction noise or notice odors inside the library while the work continues. Earplugs are available at service desks, and events or room reservations may be moved when space allows. Some services, collections or areas of the building may also close temporarily.
The entrance and roofing projects are part of a broader list of library improvements planned for 2026.
Carpet replacement in the media and children’s areas is scheduled for Aug. 4 through Aug. 17. A remodel of the first-floor restrooms is expected to begin later in the year and take about three months.
Hempstead Road culvert repairs close route near Schrock Road
Drivers heading to Inniswood Metro Gardens will need to take a different route while crews repair a concrete culvert beneath South Hempstead Road.
The road is closed at East Schrock Road, preventing drivers from entering Hempstead Road from the north. The closure began July 13 and is expected to continue through the end of August, weather permitting.
South Hempstead Road is closed to through traffic between Schrock Road and 825 S. Hempstead Road.
Inniswood remains open and accessible, but visitors must approach from the south using South Spring Road and the connector to Hempstead Road. Residents who live south of the construction area must use the same route.
The posted southbound detour takes drivers west on Schrock Road, south on Spring Road, and then back to Hempstead Road. Northbound drivers should take Spring Road north and turn east onto Schrock Road.
The project focuses on a concrete culvert that carries Hempstead Road over a small drainage channel. Sections of the original structure have deteriorated after years of exposure to road salt and brine.
Salt and liquid brine used during winter weather can seep into cracked or exposed concrete, causing corrosion and further damage. Rather than covering the problem with a new layer of pavement, crews are removing and replacing the damaged sections.
Once the structural repairs are complete, crews will rebuild and resurface the road above the culvert. Hempstead Road will remain closed while crews finish the concrete work and rebuild the roadway. Drivers should follow posted detour signs and allow extra travel time, especially when approaching Inniswood from Schrock Road.
Because this post is public, you’re encouraged to share it on social media.
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, its influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
Reader funding, including subscribers, protects editorial independence, so coverage is guided by journalists rather than owners or corporate profit goals. It also reduces pressure to chase clicks, letting the newsroom focus on stories worth readers’ time. And it helps keep the site accessible to everyone, including people who can’t pay or live in places where a free press is under threat.
Explore more hyper-local reporting by subscribing to The Hilliard Beacon, Civic Capacity, Marysville Matters, The Ohio Roundtable, Shelby News Reporter, This Week in Toledo, and Into the Morning by Krista Steele.
