COLUMBIANA COUNTY Barriers being installed to help fix twisting roads

Speed limit reductions are being pondered for two roads.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Steps are being taken to improve the safety of some of Columbiana County's steep, twisting back roads.
Work began this week on a $235,000 project to install guardrails on sections of township byways that local officials believe pose dangers for motorists, said county Engineer Bert Dawson.
The safety barriers are being put in mostly along roadsides that border sharp curves and steep embankments, Dawson explained Friday.
Roads in about a dozen of the county's 18 townships, many of which are in rugged hill country, are affected by the program.
The work is being done by Lake Erie Construction of Norwalk and probably will take about a month to finish, Dawson said.
Safer speed
Also under way is an effort to reduce the 55 mph speed limit on two roads in the southern part of Columbiana County.
County commissioners have approved a study, requested by the engineers office, that will recommend a safer speed for the affected areas, Dawson explained.
"Those areas are growing too much to have a 55 mph speed limit," he said.
Being studied for a reduced speed limit is a stretch of Y & amp; O road between East Liverpool Road and Givens Road in Madison and St. Clair townships.
Also being scrutinized is part of Sprucevale Road north of Calcutta-Smith Ferry Road in St. Clair Township.
A private firm called Master Mind, based in the Cleveland area, is doing the study for about $600, Dawson said.
The company will study accident data, school bus stops, the number of driveways and other details in making a recommendation on what the speed limit should be in those areas, Dawson said.
After reviewing Master Mind's recommendation, county officials will either pass it on to the Ohio Department of Transportation or make their own speed limit suggestion.
It will be up to ODOT to give final approval to a new limit.
The process of changing the limit will take about four months, Dawson said.
Most likely, the new speed limit will be 40 mph to 45 mph, he added.
leigh@vindy.com