Welcome to the Business Journal Archives
Search for articles below, or continue to the all new BusinessJournalDaily.com now.
Search
ODOT Projects: $63.3M in Mahoning, $44.7M in Trumbull
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Transportation’s District 4 will see $433.4 million in projects launch or continue this year, including $63.3 million in Mahoning County and $44.7 million in Trumbull County. That includes $14.4 million in upcoming work in Mahoning and $17.8 million in Trumbull.
Area projects detailed by ODOT officials Thursday morning during a news conference held at the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments’ offices are part of the $2.5 billion 2014 construction program announced by ODOT around the state, the largest in the ODOT’s history, said Anthony Urankar, District 4 deputy director.
The construction industry estimates that about 2,500 construction-related jobs are created for every $100 million of work, Urankar said. “Statewide we’re looking at bringing close to 300,000 jobs,” he said.
Area projects include about $12 million secured through Eastgate’s efforts, said Eastgate’s executive director, John Getchey. “Our motto is, ‘Get it funded,’” he said.
Key among the area projects continuing this year is the $6.1 million bridge replacement and widening project for Route 224 in Boardman and Poland that began last year. “This year we’re going to be widening that bridge,” said Brent Kovacs, ODOT public information officer. Motorists will continue to see some restrictions due to the project but “the good news is” the project is slated for completion in October.
Mahoning County projects include an “extensive rehabilitation,” costing $16.9 million, of the Route 62 bridge and ramps between Himrod and South avenues in Youngstown. “This is the start of a three-year project to replace, I would say, 80% of that bridge,” Kovacs said. Also slated for Mahoning County is the $9.7 million widening of the Route 164 bridge on Western Reserve Road over Interstate 680.
In Trumbull County, the major project is $13.2 million replacement of two bridges on Interstate 80 in Hubbard Township over Mt. Everett Road along with the realignment of Mt. Everett, Kovacs said. Mt. Everett Road will remain closed for the duration of the project, which is slated for completion in 2016.
Work will begin next year on the addition of a third lane to I80 between Route 46 in Austintown and Route 193 in Girard, around Vallourec Star, the ODOT officials reported.
The area has the third-highest percentage of truck traffic in the country, Urankar said. “We’re very happy with that,” he remarked.
“We need to widen that to help those trucks get through and increase our interstate commerce,” Kovacs remarked.
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
CLICK HERE to subscribe to our twice-monthly print edition and to our free daily email headlines.