ODOT plans to study Market Street flooding

Township officials have said that the road is under water during heavy rain.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Ohio Department of Transportation District 4 plans a study of Market Street to address drainage problems.
Jennifer Richmond, an ODOT spokeswoman, said the study, estimated at $300,000, is expected to start next summer. A consultant is expected to be hired in April.
It will focus on Market Street, which is a state route, between Western Reserve Road and Southwoods Boulevard.
Township officials have said that the road is sometimes under water in heavy rain.
"We'll be evaluating what the [storm sewer] capacity is vs. what it should be," Richmond said, referring to drainage.
A study is the first step to address the problem.
Identified in 2003
The area was identified as one requiring further study in 2003. That's the year heavy rain caused flooding of some homes and roadways within the township, but Richmond said it was part of a safety and congestion initiative undertaken by the agency.
"We looked at locations across our district that have high accident rates, congestion issues," she said.
ODOT employed the expertise of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and metropolitan planning areas, such as Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, in counties that compose the district to identify locations.
"The drainage problems came out of that process," Richmond said.
The township has completed or begun more than $900,000 in projects within the last year aimed at addressing flooding that deluged some areas during the heavy rains in summer 2003 and 2004.
Earlier this week, township trustees said they would reserve about $1.25 million in next year's budget to complete more work to alleviate flooding.
Additional funding is required to complete further projects.