I-80 project in Hubbard Twp. would impede east-west flow

By Denise Dick

By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

HUBBARD

An Ohio Department of Transportation project to replace the Interstate 80 bridges over Mount Everett Road and the Norfolk Southern Railroad would eliminate a main travel route between Hubbard Township’s east and west sides.

The bridges will be widened, and the horizontal alignment of I-80 won’t change. But ODOT is considering two alternatives to modify the alignment of Mount Everett Road.

The first would realign Mount Everett along the north side of I-80, creating a T-intersection at Drummond and constructing a cul-de-sac south of I-80.

The second alternative being considered would eliminate through access on Mount Everett and create two permanent cul-de-sacs on the north and south sides of I-80.

Estimated costs are $12.2 million and $9.9 million, respectively.

Fred Hanley, township trustee, worries about eliminating the through access on Mount Everett.

“It would close one of the few east-west roads in the township,” he said. “The ultimate solution would be to find some other way to get underneath the interstate.”

Emergency vehicles and school buses still have to get from one side of the township to the other.

The railroad tracks basically cut the township in half, Hanley said.

If Mount Everett is closed, motorists will have to travel about four miles north to another road that runs between the east and west sides of town.

“For us to get our police car over and back to other side of town would be time-prohibitive,” the trustee said.

A public meeting is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Reed Middle School, Hall Avenue, where ODOT representatives will be available to answer questions about the project.

“This is probably the highest bridge over the railroad tracks in our township,” Hanley said.

Darin Hazlett, general manager of Babcock Lumber on Mount Everett, near where the project is planned, said the project wouldn’t really affect that business.

“We go out in the other direction anyway” because weight restrictions prohibit loaded semis from traveling the other way, Hazlett said.

Herbert Yavorsky, a Mount Everett resident, though, worries how police officers responding to calls will travel between the two sides of town. Another travel path would be more time-consuming, he said.

Justin Chesnic, an ODOT District 4 spokesman, said the bridges are in need of replacement including decks and beams. The spans also will be widened, adding more shoulder to maintain traffic during future resurfacing or other projects.

The Mount Everett realignment portion of the project is required because the bridge piers stand so close to the road.

“So when we widen the bridge, the pier would basically be in the middle of Mount Everett,” Chesnic said. “Hence, you can’t drive through it.”

ODOT considered 50 alternatives before narrowing the options to two, he said.

“When we came up with the designs to try to keep Mount Everett open, the curvature of Mount Everett would be too severe,” Chesnic said.

That would be unsafe for motorists.

In comparing travel time of the current alignment with either of the two alternatives, there’s a difference of only a few minutes, he said.

Traffic counts along Mount Everett found that between 600 and 630 vehicles travel the road per day.

In ultimately selecting an alignment, ODOT will consider public input, environmental impact and cost, Chesnic said.