Monday, May 30, 2011
BOARDMAN
A recently completed traffic study recommends a traffic light be installed on South Avenue at McClurg Road.
Although the intersection does not have a high number of traffic accidents, the accidents that do occur are usually severe, meaning there are injuries or fatalities, said Sgt. John Allsopp, traffic-unit supervisor for Boardman police.
The Mahoning County Engineer’s Office conducted the traffic study and the estimated cost to install the light is $100,000 to $150,000. The county looks at traffic volume, crash frequency, severity of accidents and fatalities before deciding to complete a study. South Avenue and McClurg Road are maintained by the county.
The study does not set a time line for installation of a light.
Allsopp said the intersection has been an ongoing problem for the township.
When Allsopp joined Boardman police in the 1990s, he said McClurg Road was highlighted as a safety concern because of the large number of commercial tractor-trailers.
Expansion then began on McClurg Road, including the Ice Zone, St. Elizabeth Health Center Boardman and the Davis Family YMCA.
South Avenue was widened to five lanes, leading to even more commercial development.
Most accidents occur when a car on McClurg Road turns left onto South Avenue to travel northbound, and the most recent accident of this nature was Friday, Allsopp said.
In October 2008, a fatal accident led to a review by the Mahoning County Safe Communities Committee, which examines all fatal accidents.
Since then, the intersection averages three severe accidents annually, Allsopp said.
“I get two or three calls from residents and township employees when there’s an accident, and they’ll tell me there’s been another bad crash and ask why isn’t there a light,” Allsopp said.
A traffic light South and Maple avenues was installed in 2009 when grocery store Rulli Brothers opened.
Before then, Allsopp said, it was a straight shot on South Avenue from U.S. Route 224 to Western Reserve Road.
“It was thought there might be an effect on South and McClurg with the light at Maple,” he said.
There wasn’t, so Allsopp continued to gather evidence for a county traffic study.
Administrator Jason Loree said township officials have supported the traffic study and a traffic light at that location since the police department first brought it to their attention.
“We really hope we can get something established because of the severity of those crashes. There’s a growing traffic flow on South Avenue and McClurg Road,” Loree said.