MAHONING COUNTY Well-marked alternative routes direct travelers to Canfield Fair

Signs will be posted to alert people of other ways to get to the fair.
CANFIELD -- Because of the closure of the intersection of U.S. Route 62 and Raccoon Road, the Canfield Fair and Ohio State Highway Patrol have established alternative routes to the fairgrounds.
Fairgoers traveling from Youngstown's West Side, Cornersburg or the east side of Austintown Township are advised to travel south on Tippecanoe Road to Leffingwell Road, then west on Leffingwell to Gate 13 at the fairgrounds.
Fairgoers traveling from the west side of Austintown Township are advised to follow state Route 46 south or state Route 446 to Gate 9.
Signs will be posted directing travelers to the alternative routes, said Lt. Brian Girts of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He said no problems resulting from the road closure and alternative routes are expected.
Alternative routes
By directing travelers to alternative routes, he said, "We're trying to do something proactive and keep traffic from backing up in the village of Canfield. We did the same thing during the Hot Rod Super Nationals, and it really worked."
Many fairgoers only know one way to the fairgrounds, Girts noted.
"A lot of people don't know there are back entrances. This way, we can direct them to those entrances, and they can exit and find their way home the same way."
Another lane was added at the exit ramp from state Route 11 to U.S. Route 224, which should also help alleviate some of the traffic congestion, Girts said.
The Ohio Department of Transportation opened the right-turn-only lane this week, Girts said. During the fair, it will help keep traffic from backing up on the exit ramp and onto the highway, he said.