I-80 widening plan scaled back

YOUNGSTOWN — The state Transportation Review Advisory Council’s planned funding of local road projects might not stretch as far as initially expected, but only one local project will be affected.

Gov. Ted Strickland said earlier this week he is concerned about TRAC, which was created by state lawmakers in 1997 to oversee funding of major transportation projects. The governor said TRAC has made commitments to community road projects without adequate finances to cover the costs.

Pat Ungaro, member of the TRAC council, said the council did have lofty goals but was forced to scale back on some of its plans due to bid proposals coming in higher than expected.

Ungaro said the planned $700 million Interstate 80 widening project would add an additional lane to both sides of I-80 from Austintown to Liberty and from Liberty to Hubbard. The part of the project that includes plans to widen the road from Austintown to Liberty will continue unchanged. Engineering for the project is already under way. The second part of the project with widening plans from Liberty to Hubbard, Ungaro said, has been removed.

For the complete story, see Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com.