Project prompts mixed reaction

Residents are finding alternative routes to get around the work area.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- People living along North Road and its side streets have mixed emotions about its becoming a one-way highway for the next two years.
The heavily traveled two-lane road, between East Market Street and U.S. Route 422, became a southbound-only road Wednesday when the northbound lane was blocked to traffic because of a $3.65 million construction project.
There will be additional storm sewers installed, curbing and left-turn lanes at Adrian, Berkshire and Allenwood drives. Also, the degree of some curves will be reduced.
The east side of the road is in Howland Township, the west side in Warren. Traffic will remain southbound for the entire project.
Bill Seese, who lives on Northwood Drive near the northern portion toward West Market, said he wasn't surprised when he heard that North would be one way for two years. Rather, he said he was "shocked."
"We had no warning" that it would be one way, said Seese, a retired Warren police detective. "I hope there aren't any serious [accident] injuries."
Seese anticipates traffic along Northwood will increase as motorists use the residential street as a shortcut to get to East Market via Broadway Avenue.
Who's not pleased
"I'm not too happy about it," said Jeff Edmundson, a Warren patrol officer who lives on GreenmountDrive in the Eastgate housing development off North.
He pointed out that Eastgate was built with all dead-end streets to keep outside traffic out. This has come back to haunt the neighborhood because southbound North is the only way they can get anywhere.
"But there's not a whole lot we can do about it," Edmundson commented.
David Meeker, who lives in the 900 block of North, said the one-way road is fine with him.
"People are going to get used to it," Meeker said, noting that if construction were done in two-way sections, it would require flagmen, and motorists wouldn't know if they would be delayed for two or 10 minutes.
"The end result will be good," he said.
Meeker and his neighbor, Curtiss C. King, live across the street from Berkshire, near the entrance to Candlelight Apartments where one of the turning lanes will be installed.
King likes the idea of the turning lane in front of his home of 15 years because of the eight or nine accidents at Berkshire from the lack of the third lane.
King's wife, Koula King, likes the idea of curbing because of the trees the couple has lost in the front yard and a break-away mailbox they had to install because vehicles kept running it over.
"I have no problem with the way they're going to do this," Koula King said of the one-way road.
Looking ahead
Marilyn Wagner and her husband have lived in their North Road home for 53 years.
"They don't realize how nice it's going to be," Wagner said of the project.
The couple normally uses the northbound lane Fridays on their way to dinner. Wagner figures going southbound won't be a problem since there are plenty of restaurants along Route 422.
The only regret she has is that construction didn't begin in the spring. "How much are they going to get done in the winter?" she asked.
Wagner pointed out that the one-way will cause motorists to use Eastland Avenue that runs between Route 422 and East Market as a detour.
Mike Scala, an Eastland resident, said he hasn't noticed an increase in traffic in front of his home yet.
"We'll get some," he predicted.
Scala said he believes having any road tied up for two years is a long time.
Susan Welch, another Eastland resident, hasn't noticed an increase in traffic.
"It probably will, especially during Christmas," she said.
"That's progress," Welch added. "They need that road improved."
yovich@vindy.com