Traffic causes 224 headaches

Staff report

POLAND

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

Poland 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 Interstate 680.

Mayor Tim Sicafuse said he was surprised at the effect of the construction, which he knows all too well as his Poland insurance company sits 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 a state project with 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 Youngstown.

To reach that northbound I-680, drivers leaving Poland must now make a left turn across eastbound 224 traffic. Since 224 is now a single lane leaving Poland, it brought traffic to a halt Saturday. Lines were reportedly 3 miles long through the village.

“We knew it would be bad. It will be a tough price to pay for progress,” said Sicafuse.

Sgt. Brad Bucey of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said there were no major accidents because of the traffic, but troopers are being instructed to keep an eye on the U.S. 224-South Avenue intersection because some motorists are stopping in the middle of the intersection, backing up traffic even more.

Two businesses said that despite the traffic back-up, they were not affected.

Steve Queen of Inner Circle Pizza said business was good. “The customers are still getting here,” Queen said.

Stephanie Lavanty of Nicolini’s restaurant said business was very good there. She said traffic was especially heavy west of South Avenue and around that intersection.

The restrictions are part of a $5.4 million project to widen the bridge over I-680 and improve the interchange between the interstate and U.S. 224. The project is expected to be completed in October 2014.