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Mahoning County, Canfield team up to fix business corridor
CANFIELD
A pair of streets serving 33 businesses in Canfield underwent major upgrades – and finished under budget – thanks to a joint effort between Canfield Township and the Mahoning County Engineer’s office.
The first phase of a three-phase effort to upgrade Starr Centre Drive and Old Tippecanoe Court in Canfield finished earlier this month, wrapping up $25,231.48 under budget.
Starr Centre Drive and Old Tippecanoe Court connect Tippecanoe Road and U.S. Route 224 and serve as the primary street access for dozens of businesses operating between Indian Run Drive and Route 224. The road is traveled by just under 4,000 cars daily, according to a traffic breakdown from the county engineer.
After receiving numerous calls from drivers complaining of large potholes along the roads, Canfield Township administrator Keith Rogers approached Mahoning County Engineer Pat Ginnetti about working together to fix the problem.
Poor drainage played a large part in the streets’ unusually heavy wear – rather than water running into catch basins it was pooling on the road, eroding the asphalt – so the project called for the repair of two catch basins and the installation of two additional catch basins as well as two manholes. The concrete gutter on the streets had been paved over as well, prompting the installation of 700 feet of concrete curb and gutter.
In addition to the repairs, a left-turn lane was added where Old Tippecanoe Court meets Tippecanoe Road, reducing traffic backups at the intersection.
The project’s total budget was $348,567 for Phase 1, but the project was completed using only $323,335.52 of the allotted funding. Money for the project came from a $149,117 state grant, a $66,995 loan from the state, and $132,455 from the township’s general fund.
Kevin Holmes, the owner of Bruno Bros. Pizza in Canfield, said he’s glad the construction is completed, jokingly comparing the streets’ former condition to “driving through a war zone.”
He said that the smoother ride may have attracted more people to use the streets as a way to bypass the traffic lights at Lockwood and Route 224. He hopes the traffic flow will translate to new customers for the pizza shop.
Mahoning County is turning Old Tippecanoe Court over to Canfield and Boardman townships for joint management.
The county will continue to maintain and repair a culvert in a creek near Indian Run Drive that serves as a catch for water run-off that would otherwise build up on the roadways.
Canfield Township Trustee Joe Paloski considers the project a major success, specifically citing the reduction in traffic near the Tippecanoe Road intersection.
“More than anything it’s just nice to be able to visually see the impact a project like this has. Traffic moves much more smoothly along those roads now, and it’s nice to see the positive effect of all that work,” Paloski said.
Phase Two of the project will begin in August, starting near the entrance of Higgins Funeral Home and proceeding west 300 feet.
The final phase of the project begins in 2018 and will push the upgrade the rest of the length of the road, culminating in Starr Centre Drive’s intersection with U.S. Route 224. Catch basin installation and road repairs will be included in each phase of the project.