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Officials defend closing of Western Reserve Road
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By Elise Franco
YOUNGSTOWN
Closing a portion of Western Reserve Road is the fastest and most cost-effective way to do needed construction work, said Mahoning County Engineer Richard Marsico.
Western Reserve, between Tippecanoe Road and the state Route 11 bridge in Canfield, will be closed 45 days, from Monday to Aug. 25.
The closed section, which is less than a half-mile, was approved Thursday by the county commissioners at their weekly meeting.
Marsico said the work is part of a $4 million, yearlong construction project to widen the entire road.
“There’s a lot of work going into that area,” he said. “It’s work where they’ll be cutting across the road.”
Marsico said detours will be off Lockwood Boulevard, Tippecanoe and Raccoon roads.
He said closing the road for an extended period instead of setting up barrels for through traffic is the best way to reduce costs.
“Because of the culvert work and other construction going on there, it’s very difficult to perform while traffic is passing by,” he said. “This is also the most cost-effective way to do the project.”
Marilyn Kenner, chief deputy engineer, said previously the project has been in the works since 1991.
A.P. O’Horo Co. of Liberty is doing the road widening. Eighty percent of the money is coming from federal highway funds, and the rest from local money.
Kenner said though some closures are necessary, the road will be accessible throughout most of the construction. She said motorists will experience delays and at times, some detours.
Marsico said he expects a second portion of Western Reserve, west of the state Route 11 bridge, will close for 45 days immediately after completion of the first closure.
He said though Western Reserve isn’t a main route to the Canfield Fair, the road will be open and accessible to motorists during fair week.
Judge James C. Evans, a member of the Canfield Fair Board, said the board members are happy to hear the road will stay open.
“Even in rough condition, as I expect it will be, it will help with traffic flow” to and from the fairgrounds, he said.