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ODOT gathers input on plans for upgrading I-80 in Liberty
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Liberty residents Dr. Pat DiTommaso and his wife Charlotte speak with Project Engineer in Production Neal Miesle and District 4 Environmental Coordinator of Planning & Programs Department Edward W. Deley, Jr. about the I-80 project at the Liberty Administration Building, Thursday July 23, 2009
ODOT representatives fielded questions about detours and the length of the disruption.
LIBERTY — Dr. Mike Sekman, a pediatrician, and his wife, Donna, his office manager, attended an open-house public-involvement meeting Thursday to learn how a $22 million improvement project on Interstate 80 would impact driving routes for patients.
Ohio Department of Transportation District 4 hosted the open house from 5 to 7 p.m. to garner input from the public about its plans to improve I-80, which involves rehabilitating five bridges and extending the entrance ramp from state Route 193. That means the westbound entrance ramp from Route 193 (Belmont Avenue) would be closed for some 180 days.
Sekman, whose office is on East Liberty Street, said he and his wife wanted to know the extent of work to be done and the length of the project. “We have a lot of young drivers coming here ... and they’re not familiar with the area,” Sekman said. He said patients from Austintown and Canfield areas would encounter a detour.
His wife added that they wanted to be prepared with maps and directions to help their patients navigate. “I’m happy we talked to the [ODOT] representatives,” Mike Sekman said.
“But from our standpoint, this won’t affect the business,” Donna Sekman said.
But they have time to prepare.
Neal Miesle, ODOT project manager, said the improvement project wouldn’t get started until mid-July or August 2010. He said the completion would probably be in August 2012. “People are concerned about access, detours and the duration,” he said.
The project will be awarded in June 2010 to a qualified contractor who submits the lowest bid, said Paula Putnam, public information officer for ODOT District 4, which includes Mahoning and Trumbull counties. A handout provided by ODOT listed the estimated cost of the project at $22,361,000; money is from federal and state funding programs.
Mario Poluse, who lives on Youngstown’s West Side, said he uses I-80 to travel to Sharon, Pa., and to access Route 11 to Ashtabula.
“I wanted to know what was involved,” he said. “I’m glad to hear they’re extending the entrance ramp,” he said. “It will be safer to get on and have room to merge.”
A Liberty Township resident who declined to give his name said he uses Route 11 South to access I-80 West to travel to Akron. He said he does stop at a gas station along Belmont Avenue but may go to another station during construction.
“The temporary inconvenience is worth the improvement,” said Pat Ungaro, Liberty Township administrator. “The safety improvement is significant.”
The inconveniences will include the closing of Mosier Road, which crosses over I-80. It will be closed for about 90 days because that bridge will be rehabilitated. I-80 will have lane restrictions, and some work will be done at night. “But we have to maintain traffic at all times, “ Miesle said.
And motorists will have to take detour routes for Mosier Road and the I-80 entrance ramp.
About 25 people attended the open house.
For those who couldn’t attend the meeting, written comments may be submitted by Aug. 7 to Eric Czetli, District 4 deputy director, Attn.: Jack Noble, District 4 planning and program administrator, ODOT, 2088 S. Arlington Road, Akron, OH 444306-4243.