BELMONT AVENUE Liberty repaving to begin in fall

Resurfacing of Belmont Avenue has a completion date of July 31, 2005.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- Preliminary work leading to the ultimate resurfacing of Belmont Avenue, a primary artery through the township, will begin this fall.
Township Administrator Patrick J. Ungaro said the Ohio Department of Transportation has awarded a $1.95 million contract to Shelly & amp; Sands Inc. of Weirton, W.Va., to do the work.
"The street is pathetic," Ungaro said Thursday. "It's an embarrassment."
The administrator said he was hoping the entire project would be done this year, but the project has a completion date of July 31, 2005.
An ODOT spokeswoman said the contract, which has not been signed, calls for repairs of curbing and catch basins before resurfacing can begin.
Seven miles of the four-lane roadway, from Gypsy Lane at the Youngstown-Niles border to state Route 82 in Vienna Township will be repaved, she said.
Ungaro said work will be done at the intersections of Gypsy Lane and Liberty Street, which is just south of Interstate 80, to relieve flooding.
High water in the Goldie Road and Colonial Drive areas should be reduced, he added.
Often-asked question
Ungaro explained that companies looking at the township as a place to do business often ask if and when Belmont will be resurfaced.
"People ask about the condition of the street," he said.
Ungaro explained that he has been using the resurfacing and construction of the interchange of state Route 7/11 Connector at Gypsy that is supposed to be completed in 18 months as selling points to attract business.
Companies are interested in access, which the township has with Interstate 80 and the interchange when it is complete.
Ungaro said that because of the importance of Belmont, he has been pressuring ODOT to complete the resurfacing project.
yovich@vindy.com