Officials prepare for Canfield Fair traffic

August 31, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

CANFIELD

Despite a construction project on a main route to the Canfield Fair, officials don’t anticipate any traffic nightmares for motorists – at least any worse than usual.

The U.S. Route 224 bridge over state Route 11 will remain under construction for an Ohio Department of Transportation widening and replacement project for the duration of the fair, which begins Wednesday, but motorists still will be able to cross the bridge.

“As always, there are concerns with traffic,” said Craig Myers, Canfield Fair board president. “Local people have already planned out the alternative routes and know how to get around. It is the people coming from out of town we are concerned about.”

“We work with ODOT to help provide the best routes at any given time,” he said, adding there will be a greater number of road signs to help motorists.

Officials say traffic patrols were planned well in advance, and there will be a collaborative effort among the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, Canfield police and Canfield Fair police. Each participating department is assigned to different intersections.

Without many alternate routes to the fairgrounds, motorists will have to navigate the few main arteries that connect to the 7265 Columbiana-Canfield Road location: Route 224, state Route 46 and Leffingwell Road.

Travelers on 224 can travel in both directions on the bridge. Two eastbound lanes are open; one westbound lane will remain open. Work is underway on the westbound side of the bridge, with all of the project expected to wrap up in October.

A fairgoer exiting Fairground Boulevard onto 224, however, can only turn right. For that reason, officials say motorists might want to use other routes.

Fairgoers without permits can enter and exit the fair via three gates: Gate 2 on Fairground Boulevard; Gate 9 off Route 46; and Gate 13 off Leffingwell Road. Two additional gates, 10 and 11, will be opened as needed to ease traffic flow.

Officials suggest that, when possible, motorists should take Leffingwell from Tippecanoe Road to get to Gate 13 to avoid 224 traffic. They also suggest that visitors use Gate 13 to exit the fairgrounds and take Leffingwell to Route 46. That will bring them to the interchange of routes 224 and 11, so motorists do not have to turn around on 224 from Fairground Boulevard.

Officials encourage fairgoers to plan and give themselves extra time to get to the fair safely.

“We don’t anticipate any new problems because of the bridge. There is enough traffic control to keep it normal for the fair,” said Canfield Police Chief Chuck Colucci.