Ground-breaking ceremony to mark start of road-widening

YOUNGSTOWN -- A groundbreaking ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday to mark the start of construction for widening South Avenue in Boardman.
The ceremony will be in the parking lot of Cellular One offices near Walker Mill Road, said Mahoning County Engineer Richard Marsico.
Immediately after, officials from general contractor A.P. O'Horo Co. will meet with affected residents and business owners to discuss their questions and concerns about the project.
"It's moving along," Marsico said of the long-awaited, $4.3 million project. South Avenue will be widened from two to five lanes between Presidential Drive and Western Reserve Road.
Reason for expansion: The expansion is needed to accommodate commercial growth and its accompanying traffic increase. It will include resurfacing, installation of storm sewers, new pavement markings and new traffic signs.
A traffic light will be installed at South Avenue and Western Reserve Road.
Construction is scheduled to be completed by July 31, 2003, but Marsico said he's hoping it will be done sooner.
The project, in the works at least five years, was delayed when officials decided to make the road five lanes instead of four.
The extra lane required purchase of land along both sides of the road. A four-lane project could have been done without additional right-of-way, Marsico said.