Cul-de-sac proposal draws flak in N. Lima

By Sean Barron

There’s no need to spend money on repairing a problem that doesn’t exist, one resident said.

NORTH LIMA — “It’s a horrible waste of money.”

That was Victoria Wiery’s sentiment about a proposed cul-de-sac near state Route 626 and Western Reserve Road in Beaver Township.

Wiery owns Alpha Terra Realty Inc. at 9170 South Ave., just off Western Reserve. Instead of reconfiguring Route 626 (Woodworth Road), to alleviate traffic congestion, the Ohio Department of Transportation should consider adding another exit off Interstate 680 between Western Reserve and the Ohio Turnpike, she suggested, adding that traffic “is a nightmare” near her business during certain afternoon hours.

Wiery was one of about 70 business owners and residents to attend Friday’s special town hall meeting to discuss the proposal with state Sen. Mark Okey of Carrollton, D-61st.

Nearly everyone at the 90- minute session opposed the estimated $2.6 million cul-de-sac project, which would reroute Woodworth Road, causing it to meet Market Street about 500 feet farther south. That money could be better spent toward installing the I-680 exit near South Avenue, which would greatly reduce truck traffic on and near Western Reserve, among other benefits, many participants contended.

In addition, several people said there are few accidents or traffic tie-ups near Route 626 and Western Reserve. The consensus among attendees: It’s not broken, so don’t fix it.

“It’s a colossal waste of money for a problem that doesn’t exist,” added Lisa Lotze of Pine Lake Road, whose husband, Richard, runs an accounting business near Woodworth.

A handful of people said the worst they’ve seen in the area are occasional fender-benders and sporadic flooding.

Several owners of nearby businesses said they felt the cul-de-sac would hurt them, partly because the project would likely make access more arduous.

One woman worried that the move would make it more difficult for adjacent fire departments to reach businesses in emergencies. A few business owners feared the project would take away parking spaces, discouraging customers and causing a loss in revenue.

Some home and business owners wondered why ODOT hasn’t given greater priority to the I-680 off-ramp idea. Another exit off the freeway also would give motorists coming from East Liverpool and other points south an alternative route into Boardman and elsewhere in the region; many such drivers typically come up state Routes 7 and 164 to I-680, creating additional traffic, one man noted.

ODOT officials expect to award contracts for the project in January 2011, with work getting under way the following spring. About $2 million is slated for construction, estimated to take about two years. The transportation department is now working on adding a right-turn lane on the westbound side of Western Reserve over I-680 to improve traffic flow.

Okey, whose district includes southern Mahoning County, encouraged participants to write letters to him, which he plans to present to ODOT. Okey added that he also will try to get ODOT representatives to address the concerns of those who would be affected by the project.