Westar Boulevard's New Bridge Culvert In Place - All You Can Eat Friday Fish Fry
After weather and scheduling setbacks stretching back to December, crews on Thursday installed the culvert for the future roadway connection between Westar Boulevard and Africa Road, completing a key piece of the East of Africa development.
The first installation attempt was derailed in December 2025, the same day the precast culvert sections arrived on site. Overnight flooding filled the excavation, leaving crews unable to safely place, seal, and grout the structure as planned. With the site unusable, the work had to be postponed until a crane could be rescheduled and a crew reassigned to complete the installation.
The delay lingered through winter. Frozen surface conditions kept the excavation from being ready for work again until a stretch of warmer weather and recent heavy rain made the site conditions more favorable.
Crews were scheduled to install the culvert again on Monday of this week, but another round of rain and cold weather forced one more delay.
Work finally moved forward Thursday, when crews used a crane to lower the precast concrete sections into place and complete the installation. Each section had to be aligned in sequence, sealed to the next, and grouted to form the finished structure. The paired headwalls were also set as part of the assembly.
The culvert will carry water beneath the new roadway planned to link Westar Boulevard and Africa Road. Its installation marks a significant step in the construction of the connector road through the 88-acre East of Africa development.
All You Can Eat Friday Fish Fry
Blendon Masonic Lodge #339 will host an all-you-can-eat fish fry on Friday, March 27, 2026, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Blendon Masonic Temple, 130 S. State St. in Westerville.
The meal is $14 and includes hand-breaded Alaskan pollock, fresh-cut fries, mac and cheese, cole slaw, and applesauce. Kids eat free, and carryout orders will be available.
The event benefits Westerville Special Olympics.
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