Construction pushed back, but prep work can be done over next few weeks on good weather days

By robert connelly | rconnelly@vindy.com

CANFIELD

The start of the reconstruction of the U.S. Route 224 bridge over state Route 11 has been pushed back due to cold weather, but motorists could see prep work when the weather is nicer.

Brent Kovacs, a spokesman with the Ohio Department of Transportation, said the change from early March to later in the month is due to the recent stretch of cold weather.

“The forecast is way too cold for them to get out and do anything,” he said. He said prep work that had been scheduled to begin today will occur when there are nicer weather days.

That prep work includes various lane restrictions.

A.P. O’Horo of Youngstown is the contractor on the estimated $5.4 million project, which is expected to be completed in October. The project is supposed to mirror the U.S. Route 224/Interstate 680 work in Boardman. It will include widening Raccoon Road for a dedicated left-turn lane, with a straight/right-turn lane at its intersection with U.S. Route 224.

Crews also will add a left-turn lane to the southbound Route 11 ramp at 224, meaning there will be two dedicated left-turn lanes, a straight only and a dedicated right-turn lane once finished.

“It’s already difficult to get in and out of here,” said Anna Howells, owner of Something New Florist, 4500 Boardman-Canfield Road. “It is going to affect all of our businesses,” she said of the road work.

Howells said Something New is going to have to take out its concrete sign, which is “cemented into the ground — so we’re going to have to dig it out.” She said the florist will replace the sign and raise it higher so motorists can see it during construction time.

“We have this huge showroom and all this different product, and we don’t want people to not come in,” Howells said. She added she was grateful that there was no construction around Valentine’s Day, but she is worried about brides coming in during the spring and summer time for arrangements for their ceremonies.

Miner’s Tractor Sales Inc. at 611 E. Main St. also had to take down its sign.

Construction will stop the week before, the week of and the week after the Canfield Fair. Fair officials have said they have time to work out alternative routes and that there will be information for fairgoers ahead of time. Raccoon Road will be open for the fair, Kovacs said.