US 224 construction caused long backups today

Staff Report

POLAND

Traffic crawled to a standstill in some places Saturday because of lane restrictions for U.S. Route 224 road construction.

Poland Village endured traffic backed up all through the village Saturday — the first full day of lane restrictions on U.S. 224 as well as access to I-680.

Mayor Tim Sicafuse was surprised at the effect of the construction, which he knows all too well as his Poland insurance company sits right at 224 and 680.

“I was surprised at the backups today. We will monitor it and see what we can do,” he said Saturday, noting it is first a state project and state jurisdiction.

Key to the clog for Poland was the tandem effect of single-lane U.S. 224 traffic and the closing of the northbound entrance to I-680 for drivers headed toward downtown Youngstown.

To reach that northbound I-680, drivers leaving Poland must now make a left turn across eastbound 224 traffic to enter I-680.

For the complete story, read Sunday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.