Traffic crush continues on Route 224

July 29, 2013 at 12:09p.m.

POLAND

Traffic congestion continued Monday morning and afternoon along US Route 224.

The heavy traffic congestion is caused by the $5.4 million Ohio Department of Transportation project bringing traffic down to one lane in each direction. In addition, the northbound Interstate 680 ramp can now only be reached by turning left and crossing traffic driving eastbound on 224.

Detours are not expected until some of the ramps are actually closed, but motorists should consider alternative routes to avoid congestion, said Justin Chesnic, ODOT District 4 spokesman.

“Usually when you have a big traffic pattern change on a big job, motorists will typically find a way around,” Chesnic said. “In this situation there are routes like South Avenue and Midlothian Boulevard that will get you around.”

ODOT will widen the bridge over I-680, replace a culvert on 224 east of I-680 and make changes to the 224 and I-680 interchange. The project is expected to be completed by October 2014.

“What we are doing is replacing [the culvert] one half at a time. If we replaced the whole culvert we would have to completely close 224,” Chesnic said.

Chesnic said traffic signals and timing are always looked at to see if changing them would alleviate congestion.

“The main thing is this is one of the most heavily congested areas in the Youngstown area even before the project started,” Chesnic said. “The goal is with this project hopefully it will ease that congestion and make it a safer route.”