Austintown roads to be rebuilt

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County commissioners have voted to advertise for bids for reconstruction of the deteriorated Victoria East and East Webb roads in Austintown.

Victoria East Road runs from Ohltown Road to Victoria Road and provides alternative access to the Victoria Road industrial park, which includes several major warehouses and an Ohio National Guard armory.

“It’s extremely important because you have a lot of industry there,” and considerable truck traffic to and from the industrial park, said David Ditzler, chairman of the commissioners.

East Webb Road runs west from Four Mile Run Road to a cul-de-sac at the interchange of Interstates 80 and 680 and state Route 11.

The two projects the commissioners voted to advertise Thursday are estimated to cost a combined total of about $340,000, and will be funded entirely by real-estate taxes paid by the Austintown racino, according to county Engineer Patrick Ginnetti.

The racino, known as Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, will open its casino Sept. 17, with the first horse race there set for Nov. 24.

The commissioners also approved preparation of detailed architectural and engineering plans for the restoration of the 103-year-old county courthouse, for which the county will advertise for bids in December, with construction in 2015.