BOARDMAN Southern Blvd. changes irk businesses

Businesses in the area of a busy intersection object to a no-left-turn restriction.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Township business owners, unhappy with recent changes made to the intersection at Southern Boulevard and U.S. Route 224, took their concerns to Mahoning County and township officials Friday.
An island for right-hand turns was added to Southern Boulevard northbound; left-hand turns northbound from Southern Boulevard onto 224 are no longer permitted.
Paula Putnam, an Ohio Department of Transportation spokeswoman, said at a meeting Friday at Boardman Government Center that the changes were necessary because of regulations for the railroad alongside Southern Boulevard. She said the island was needed because a mandatory gate that would block traffic from passing trains could not be installed. The gate would hit power lines in the up position.
John Krompegel, Mahoning County Engineer's traffic engineer, said county officials also gave the project their blessing. He said there have been traffic issues at the intersection for some time.
Krompegel said cars would create traffic jams trying to get through the busy intersection.
The railroad
According to Krompegel, county officials had at one time hoped the railroad would be abandoned, making room for an additional lane. Had that happened, he said, three northbound lanes would have been added.
Krompegel said that with the reactivation of the railroad, another plan had to be devised and ODOT's plan for an island in the right turn lane accommodated the railroad and the traffic concerns. A no-left-turn provision was also added to the intersection for northbound vehicles, he said, to help keep cars from backing up along Southern Boulevard.
"Since the improvements have been made, delays have been reduced by 85 percent. We have realized a number of different advantages," he said.
Business concerns
But several business owners in the area say the changes have been a disadvantage to them. The complaints stem from the no-left-turn restriction.
Lorraine Sutton-Parnell and Joyce Sutton, owners of Sutton Motorcoach Tours, said their tour buses now have to make inconvenient trips around the block because of the left-turn restriction. She said the only other option is to take the buses onto residential streets, which is still inconvenient for them and residents.
"When my family moved onto Southern Boulevard with our buses, we did so because of accessibility. We loved it," said Sutton. "I don't know what they are going to do, but they are going to have to do something."
Sutton-Parnell said several of her tenants in the area have said they want a reduction in rent. She said tenants say the inconvenience will be detrimental to their businesses.
Several representatives of R & amp;J Trucking said the no-left-turn change is damaging to their business as well. They said many national truck drivers coming into the business will be forced out of their way.
David Collins of Diamond Steel said the intersection is now a daily inconvenience to his business.
"It just adds time to every trip out of our yard," he said. "It cost me 15 minutes every time a big truck leaves the yard."
All the business owners told officials the no-turn sign should be taken down. Ultimately they would like to see the northbound side of Southern Boulevard made into three lanes.
Krompegel said that to make the three lanes needed to remove the left-turn restriction, the county would need more land. He said that land would have to be donated from the west side of Southern Boulevard because not enough cars make the left turn to justify buying the land. He estimates about 300 cars per day would make the turn.
Township trustee Tom Costello said trustees will send a letter to ODOT, the Ohio Railroad Commission and the Columbiana County Port Authority, which owns the railroad, in an effort to see what, if anything, can be done.
jgoodwin@vindy.com