The overall project is on schedule. It is expected that the project will meet the scheduled completion date of November 1, 2023.
The bulk of the work has now shifted to the south side of Main Street from Ridge Avenue to Cedar Street. The past week has been spent preparing for the new curb. Curb installation began March 16, 2023. New concrete sidewalks and driveways will be installed after the curb installation is completed.
The week of March, 20, 2023, traffic signal foundation installation will begin at Ridge Avenue.
Next week residents should expect traffic impacts due to storm pipe ‘tie-ins’ to work completed on the north side of Main Street previously. This will also be occurring for utility duct tie-ins between South Lane and Ridge Streets. There are numerous locations, between Norwich Road (in proximity of Taco Bell) and Cherry Street (in proximity of downtown), where it will be required to cut and trench across Main Street. This will necessitate the short term shifting of traffic lanes from the current lanes and traffic pattern. Cones will be used to direct the traffic through these work zones.(This is also going to be happening between Short and Ridge)
It is important for motorists to pay extra attention when driving through work zones. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, there were 4,628 work zone-related crashes in Ohio last year, 21 were deadly resulting in 23 deaths and 85 involved serious injuries. Summit County recorded the most in the state with 814 work zone crashes. June is the top month for work zone crashes (585) with Wednesday being the top day (833). Most occur between 3 – 5 P.M. In 2022, there were 133 ODOT crews (workers, vehicles, and equipment) struck while working along Ohio roadways.