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Work on bridge nearly done
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Repairs to the Interstate 80 over U.S. Route 422 have caused traffi c delays in Girard. The project is part of an $18.5 million road improvement plan that has also repaved I-80 from Shady Road to state Route 11. An Ohio Department of Transportation spokesman said the project is slated to fi nish later this month or in early October.
By Danny Restivo
GIRARD
For the past three months, Michael Kermec has experienced delays during his morning commute to work at Home Savings & Loan Co. in downtown Youngstown.
“Right off the bat, it’s like, ‘great, this is going to be a good day,’” he said.
Kermec is one of many drivers experiencing the congestion along U.S. Route 422 due to Interstate 80 bridge repairs over Route 422. Since July, the Ohio Department of Transportation has reinforced concrete at the I-80 bridge, next to the on- and off-ramps. The repairs have turned four lanes into two and created frustration among some drivers.
“People come in here and complain, and swear about it,” said Desiree DeFrank, a cashier at the Sunoco gas station on South State street, a few hundred feet from the construction site. From her storefront, DeFrank said she has seen southbound traffic backed-up past the Dairy Queen, nearly 400 feet from the bridge. She’s also seen stressful drivers try to maneuver around other vehicles.
“A lot of people get in wrecks trying to go around one another,” she said. “A couple months ago, it was bad, but now it’s at its worst.”
Kermec, who lives on Crumlin Avenue, said the road is most congested around 7:30 a.m., when he’s trying to go south on Route 422. He said a normal drive to work without traffic is eight to 10 minutes, but with the bridge repairs, it takes him 22 to 25 minutes.
The project is part of an $18.5 million road- improvement plan that also has repaved I-80 from Shady Road to state Route 11, said Justin Chesnic, public information officer for ODOT’s fourth district, which includes Trumbull and Mahoning counties. He said the project is scheduled to be completed later this month, or early October.
“We’re 95 [percent] to 97 percent done,” he said.
Mayor Jim Melfi said the city has no jurisdiction over the project, but he drives through the traffic every day and understands why people are frustrated. Although he sympathizes, he wants people to remember the positive aspects the bridge will bring to the city, including roughly $30,000 in tax revenue from the road workers.
“With a large project like this comes traffic,” he said. “I want people to remember what the bridge looked like before. For a decade, it was absolutely ugly.”
Melfi also points to the need for new infrastructure with the expansion of businesses such as V&M Star, which is scheduled to open its new facility later this year.
Kermec said he understands why the improvements are important, but he wishes there would be a police officer or worker directing traffic to give drivers some order.
“Right now, I just hope someone is kind enough to let me in, or I just shoot into the lane,” he said.
Until the bridge work is completed, Kermec said he will take Belmont Avenue to work.