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Sewer project finally begins in Poland
POLAND
After nearly 20 years, construction is finally under way on the South Struthers Interceptor Sewer.
The sewer will serve Poland Township, taking water to the wastewater plant on Struthers Road and providing new areas with access to sewer service.
Motorists on Struthers Road likely noticed last week that part of the road between Clingan Road and U.S. Route 224 has been closed for the sewer installation.
The closure isn’t affecting daily traffic too much, say local businesses.
“I don’t think [business]is suffering from Struthers Road being closed,” said Sandy Kerr, who co-owns Kerr Automotive with her husband, Paul. “Right now, they’re re-routing.”
She said many customers are taking the north part of Struthers Road, turning right onto Clingan Road and then left on Route 224 before reaching Struthers Road again. Kerr’s Automotive is located on Route 224, just west of the Struthers Road intersection.
Lexa Shaffer, a manager at B.Y. Pools and Spas, said when parts of U.S. Route 224 closed about five years ago for pavement repairs, it affected the store.
“We lost a lot of business,” she said. “When they start messing around with [Route] 224, it’s bad.”
However, Shaffer said the sewer project is good for the area.
“We’re definitely looking forward to the sewer. We have to have that septic tank pumped out every year,” Shaffer said.
In October, the Mahoning County commissioners awarded the first phase of installation project to Rud-zik Excavating Inc. of Struthers at a cost of $1,587,446.
An Army Corps of Engineers grant for $1.2 million is providing most of the funding, and local contributions are about $427,000, said David Benedetto, supervisor of construction and design for the county.
The first phase services Struthers and Kennedy roads, and phase two will serve Luteran Lane, James Street, Poland Center Drive and Route 224, he said.
“This has been a long time coming. Actually, it was designed in the 1980s. People currently use septic systems. This most recent project was resurrected in about 2005, and its taken us six years to get it in the ground,” Benedetto said.
Phase one should be completed in April, and the engineer’s office plans to bid phase two that same month, he added.