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State starts $2.3M repaving of major Valley roads
By Denise Dick
By DENISE DICK
HOWLAND
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This stretch of U.S. Route 224 in Canfi eld is slated to be repaved this summer after work is complete on repaving state Route 46 in Howland.
A resurfacing project that spans two counties is slated to start today.
Crews from the Ohio Department of Transportation District 4 were to begin resurfacing state Route 46 between U.S. Route 422 in Howland Township and state Route 5 in Bazetta Township.
The $2.3 million project also includes resurfacing U.S. Route 224 from just east of North Hillside Drive in Canfield to just west of Pinewood Drive in Boardman. State Route 625 [Lockwood Boulevard] between U.S. 224 and Midlothian Boulevard in Boardman also will be resurfaced.
Kristen Erickson, an ODOT District 4 spokeswoman, said crews will complete the Trumbull County portion of the project before moving onto the Mahoning County piece.
“The whole project is considered preventive maintenance,” she said.
The roads were due for resurfacing work at the same time, Erickson said.
During work in both counties, a minimum of one lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction during construction.
The projects are set to end in August.
Frank Parke, a Bazetta trustee, said the road needs the work.
“It’s very rough in places,” Parke said. “It needs resurfaced; there’s no doubt about that.”
Jason Loree, Boardman administrator, said most of the complaints about the condition of U.S. 224 received at the township government center concern the portion in Canfield.
“There are parts of 224 that are getting bad,” he said.
That stretch of roadway needs to be resurfaced, but Loree worries that it won’t be finished in time for the Canfield Fair, causing traffic tie-ups.
Overall, though, Loree believes the resurfacing is a good project.
“I’m happy for 224,” he said. “It’s a main artery, and it keeps traffic flowing into the township.”
Martha Zarlenga, Canfield trustee, says the work is necessary. “It’s always bad, especially when you hit there from Raccoon Road on down 224 to Tippecanoe,” she said.
Carmen Heasley, Canfield’s fiscal officer, agrees.
“From Tippecanoe going to Raccoon, you can see the road is in bad shape,” she said.