Officials, residents happy, relieved US 224 work coming to close

BOARDMAN

With work on the U.S. Route 224 bridge over Interstate 680 drawing to a close, Poland and Boardman officials, as well as businesses, say they couldn’t be happier that the project is almost complete.

“We can already tell a difference,” said Kelly Wolford, manager at Inner Circle Pizza, 1816 Boardman-Poland Road. “I’m starting to see people we have not seen for a while. They’re all saying, ‘Thank goodness the traffic is open.’”

All of the bridge lanes reopened at the end of September. Restrictions to exit and entrance ramps also were removed.

The $5.4 million Ohio Department of Transportation project, which included widening the bridge and changes to the interchanges, began in July 2013.

The bridge widening includes a new lane in each direction. And, there is now a traffic light and dual right-turn lane where 680 southbound exits to 224 westbound.

Read the complete story in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.