Projects to end I-80 congestion

COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Department of Transportation says $11.4 million has been approved for design plans and engineering studies to widen U.S. 80 in portions of Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
The plans would cover about six miles of the interstate from state Route 46 in Mahoning to state Route 193, or Belmont Avenue, in Trumbull County, according to ODOT spokesperson Jennifer Richmond.
Some $3.6 million was allocated for plans and studies on the interstate from Route 46 to the area of state Route 11 and U.S Route 680.
That proposal would cover construction of about two miles of either one or two express lanes on the interstate's median. The express lanes allow vehicles to travel faster without traffic from interchanges.
The other $8.7 million would pay for plans and studies for creation of a third lane of the interstate from the state Route 11-U.S. Route 680 area to state Route 193.
The estimated construction cost for the two projects is about $134 million.
Funding would not be available, at the earliest, until 2012 for the express lanes and until 2013 for the additional lane. Construction would come later, she said.
The Transportation Review Advisory Committee approved the studies and plans Friday. The project is part of Ohio's Jobs and Progress Plans.
Additional plans for allied work on the interstate could drive the cost to about $250 million. But Richmond said no funding has been approved for those studies or plans, much less construction, since ODOT believes the two projects that were funded will end the congestion.