Long-planned I-80, SR 164 bridge widenings set to start this year

GIRARD

Two construction projects that have been waiting years for funding will start this year in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

One of those projects, the repaving and widening of six miles of Interstate 80 from Austintown to Liberty, has been talked about for 15 to 20 years, said officials from the Ohio Department of Transportation and Eastgate Regional Council of Governments.

“These were the projects that needed to be done and there was no way to get them done,” said Justin Chesnic, public information officer for ODOT District 4. He was talking of the actions taken by Gov. John Kasich to free up funds through the Ohio Jobs and Transportation Plan.

In 2013, ODOT officials said the I-80 project was moved up from a start date of 2020 to 2015 because of the new funds freed up by the governor.

“Around the state, it’s helped quite a few large-scale projects,” Chesnic said.

That project’s contract will be awarded in April and the completion date for the $108.4 million effort is July 2018. Officials said Wednesday they expect work to start this July.

Officials also pointed to the state Route 164 project in Beaver Township set to begin this year as another project at least 15 years in the making.

Read more about the projects in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.