Downtown traffic to get yet another impediment

YOUNGSTOWN —It’s about to get a little more challenging for those driving downtown.

A $474,684 improvement project to West Federal Street between Fifth Avenue and South Phelps Street is going to begin next week.

With the project comes a parking ban there, effective Wednesday, said Charles T. Shasho, deputy director of the city’s public works department.

The street will remain open to motorists during the project, expected to be finished by August.

This work will begin while two other major projects in downtown are causing traffic congestion at times.

The city doesn’t have the ability to postpone the West Federal Street project, Shasho said.

About 70 percent of the project’s cost comes from the state. With the state funding comes a deadline of mid-September from the state to get the project finished or lose the money, Shasho said.

The city already received an extension on the deadline from the state and another wouldn’t likely be approved, Shasho said.

“It’s an inconvenience, but it can’t be helped,” Shasho said.

For the complete story, read Saturday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com