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State to help fund traffic signal upgrades at 14 Youngstown intersections
YOUNGSTOWN
The state will award a contract later this month, for an estimated $1.7 million, to either replace or upgrade 14 traffic signals on South Avenue between Midlothian Boulevard just south of Interstate 680, and on Midlothian between South and Southern Boulevard.
“The project will reduce traffic congestion in that area,” said Charles Shasho, deputy director of the city’s public-works department. “It’s to move traffic flow more efficiently on South Avenue and Midlothian. It will be a synchronized system with detectors” to determine if there are vehicles on the cross streets.
Though the state is paying the entire cost of the project, it requires the city to approve an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the work, Shasho said. The city’s board of control voted in favor of the agreement at its Thursday meeting.
The project also includes ramps and crosswalks at each of the intersections.
The work should begin in late summer or early fall, Shasho said.
ODOT officials say the work should be done by December. At least one lane of traffic will be maintained at all times by flaggers, according to ODOT.
Traffic lights will be removed on South Avenue at Pyatt Street and Emery Avenue, and on Midlothian at Rush Boulevard and Erie Street.
The lights at the other intersections will be upgraded. Those intersections with South Avenue are at Williamson Avenue, the I-680 northbound ramp, the southbound ramp, Dewey Avenue, Indianola Avenue, East Boston Avenue, Lucius Avenue, Midlothian Boulevard, and Judson Avenue/Sunset Boulevard.
The other Midlothian Boulevard intersection is at Southern Boulevard.