COLUMBIANA COUNTY Intersection of routes 46 and 7 to be closed for improvements

The superintendent said improvements will greatly improve traffic safety.
COLUMBIANA -- Road improvements on state Route 7 in Fairfield Township will cause delays in bus transportation of Crestview pupils.
Superintendent John Dilling said, however, that the benefits will far outweigh the temporary inconvenience.
Ohio Department of Transportation officials said The Shelly Co. of Twinsburg has the contract for the $660,000 project, which is to be completed by the end of October.
State Route 7 at state Route 46 and Columbiana-Waterford Road will be closed beginning Sept. 23 so workers can complete work that began in July to widen the road for turn lanes and to install traffic signals.
Delays, detours
Dilling said there were delays and detours during a similar project at the Route 7 and Crestview Road intersection. Improvements at both intersections will greatly improve traffic safety, he said.
Dilling said before the traffic signal was installed at the Crestview Road and Route 7 intersection, buses had to wait several minutes on Route 7 traffic before turning left to go north on Route 7.
The situation is similar at Route 46 and Columbiana-Waterford Road, he said. There is a bus stop on a Crestview route at routes 46 and 7, he said.
Dilling said the improvements are needed because with the residential and commercial growth in Columbiana and the surrounding area, traffic is steadily increasing on Route 7.