ODOT project on Route 224/I-680 now complete

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Work on U.S. Route 224 over Interstate 680 is complete, the Ohio Department of Transportation said Thursday.

The project originally was slated to be finished by last Friday, but completion was pushed back a week due to weather.

The $5.4 million ODOT project began in July 2013, and included culvert replacement, replacing and widening the 224 bridge over 680 and changes to the off- and on-ramps.

Though bridge lanes reopened and restrictions to exit and entrance ramps were removed at the end of September, temporary lane closures on 224 between Tiffany Boulevard and 680 continued for paving and electrical work.

The goal of the project was to alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety in that area, according to ODOT.

Changes include a new lane on each side of the bridge and a traffic light and dual right-turn lane where 680 southbound exits to 224 westbound.

Previously, motorists exiting 680 southbound to 224 westbound had to merge into traffic.

The 680 southbound off-ramp to 224 westbound was relocated 350 feet east, and a right-turn entrance lane from 224 westbound to 680 northbound was added. A right-turn lane entrance also was added from 224 to Tiffany Boulevard.

The year-and-a-half-long project could have been completed in a shorter amount of time if the bridge had been replaced all at once, ODOT District 4 spokesman Justin Chesnic said.

But, he said, “It would have been such a disruption to completely close it, so we chose to keep one lane in each direction open ... and replace one side at a time.”

He said the project was completed onbudget.