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ODOT to speed up U.S. 224 project
By KALEA hall
POLAND
Ohio Department of Transportation representatives told Poland Village Council and residents Tuesday that improvement work on U.S. Route 224 is being accelerated because of the heavy traffic backups into Poland.
“People making left turns is causing the backup,” said Joe Alfano, project engineer for ODOT.
To alleviate that traffic, work is being increased on the Interstate 680 northbound entrance ramp. The ramp is expected to open by the end of this month or the first of September.
Westbound drivers wanting to enter I-680 northbound often have to wait to turn in front of eastbound traffic, causing backups into Poland.
Last Thursday, ODOT shut down the ramp from I-680 northbound onto Route 224.
The $5.4 million project that began in July is expected to be completed by October 2014. ODOT will be making changes to the Route 224 and I-680 interchange, widening the bridge over I-680 and replacing a culvert on 224 east of I-680.
“Currently, we are in a phase now that’s major,” Alfano said.
One part of phase one is to create a T intersection coming off of I-680 southbound onto Route 224 in an area that has often caused safety concerns. From 2005-2007, there were about 50 accidents around that exit.
All the work for the first phase is expected to be complete by Oct. 31, so all four lanes and ramps will be open.
Phase 2 work will not be started until 2014.
Council President Joe Mazur wanted to bring ODOT in for a meeting after the village received numerous complaints from citizens driving the route.
“I thought people would like to know specifically what is going on,” Mazur said.
Mazur was happy to hear ODOT is doing whatever possible to speed up the process of getting the I-680 northbound ramp open so the traffic congestion in Poland can be somewhat alleviated.
“They’ve got to get going because driving at Christmastime will be a big mess,” Mazur said.
Resident Marian Gillette said she expected more explanation about the project.