43
Inconvenience of closing Lincoln was worth it, officials say
YOUNGSTOWN
The closure of Lincoln Avenue since mid-August has been an inconvenience, but city and Youngstown State University officials said it’s been worth it.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the near completion of the road took place Thursday.
The road that runs through the YSU campus will reopen no later than Dec. 23.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Mayor John A. McNally said. “It’s been an inconvenience, but a good inconvenience. It shows progress and that we’re moving forward.”
The $1,449,695 project included paving, sewer improvements, sidewalks, signs, crosswalks, small pedestrian islands at intersections and removing parking spaces on the north side of the street.
Those who drive on Lincoln have experienced “students darting out” on to the street trying to cross, causing dangerous situations, YSU President Jim Tressel said.
“Now, we’ll have a more pedestrian-friendly” street, he said.
Tyler Miller-Gordon, YSU Student Government Association president, said, “I know students will be happy to have Lincoln Avenue back and have it look better. The improvements are really attractive for prospective students as well.”
The work was done between Fifth and Wick avenues, but when Lincoln reopens, it will remain closed between Phelps Street and Wick. That’s because of a $4.1 million project on Wick Avenue from Wood Street to the Eastbound Service Road of the Madison Avenue Expressway. The Wick work will be finished by about September 2017.
Wick is closed to through traffic with local traffic maintained only in a southbound direction. Traffic is detoured onto Fifth and Andrews avenues.
The project includes moving above-ground utility lines underground, replacing two waterlines with one, replacing a sewer line, installing new traffic lights, reducing the three-lane road to two lanes, with the middle being a turning lane, as well as paving and new signage.
McNally said he also wants a major rehabilitation project on Fifth Avenue between Wood Street and the Eastbound Service Road of the Madison Avenue Expressway. That is a few years down the road, though he said it’s in the design phase.
The work would include reducing the size of the road, making sidewalk improvements and adding bicycle lanes, he said.