Road likely to stay open

More than 1,000 vehicles traveled the road during a 12-hour study period.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- The number of vehicles that traveled a short section on state Route 616 in the village during a 12-hour study make the road's closure unlikely.
Town One Streetscapes, a community group that targets beautification projects, had inquired about closing the small section of the road between U.S. Route 224 and state Route 170.
The group maintains Peterson Park, a triangular parcel that sits between the three roads. A gas station formerly sat at the site, which now boasts park benches, shrubs, flowers and statues.
Joe Mazur, village council president, said the group, of which he is a member, asked him to contact the state about closing the road at least temporarily.
The village police department conducted a traffic study last week to ascertain the traffic volume on the route.
"In light of that information, I don't think we're going to do it," Mazur said. "There's no place for the traffic to go."
Study results
During a 12-hour period Nov. 17, 957 cars, 52 tractor-trailers and seven school buses passed along that short stretch of Route 616, according to a memo to council from police Chief Russell D. Beatty Jr., who is also village street commissioner.
Twenty-four pedestrians traveled the road during the study period.
"A far greater number of vehicles were counted than anticipated," Beatty wrote.
Special events such as Christmas shopping would likely increase traffic flow, and during warmer weather, pedestrian traffic would likely be heavier, the chief noted.
Truck traffic also is heavier during the construction season of spring, summer and early fall.
Western Reserve Joint Fire District, which operates a station on Route 170 near the intersection, would have to alter its routes to the north and east if the section of Route 616 closed, Beatty wrote.
"There are no truck routes to Struthers from state Route 170 if this section is closed," his memo said.
Heavier traffic elsewhere
Closing the road also would mean heavier traffic on Riverside, Botsford, Diana and Marion drives and on Second, Nesbitt and Edna streets, he said. None of those streets is acceptable for tractor-trailer traffic.
More traffic on those side streets would bring greater maintenance costs to the village as well as increased concerns to pedestrians and neighborhoods, Beatty said in the memo.
The council president said the amount of traffic means the road probably won't be closed.
"I think it's a dead issue," Mazur said.